Bad news for all those who partake but a big win for public health as disposable vapes are officially set to be banned in England and Wales next year.
After reports first began circulating back in January , retailers stocking disposable vapes will have until the summer to remove them from the shelves.
The legislation was handed down by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 23 October, with ratification in England and Wales coming on Thursday; it is expected that Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit.
Local councillors had already called for the ban earlier this year due to the ‘environmental impact’ and it has remained a priority for Public Health England virtually ever since the advent began.
Announcing the impending ban this week , DEFRA confirmed that what they have labelled as an “extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities” – not to mention a gateway substance for non-smokers and children – will finally be banned by June 2025.
Image: The Manc Group
In addition to a marked increase in users who have never even smoked before, it is estimated that around 9% of the British population now enjoy vaping and that the popularity among young people is alarming and only increasing.
The Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne said: “It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today.
“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”
Meanwhile, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh, who announced the new law on Wednesday, added: “This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net-zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”
69% of those who responded to the consultation were in favour of doing away with disposable vapes which are not only a public health risk but a massive detriment environmentally, as plastic, lead, and mercury leaching into waterways and/or other habits to harm wildlife is a prevailing concern.
The usual type of vape pens bought from off-licenses and most major retailers cannot typically be recycled, meaning that they usually end up in landfill or being incinerated, which also poses a fire risk due to their lithium-ion batteries and can cause poor air quality.
Despite still being a hugely profitable industry, the government is also set to introduce a landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill , first submitted in September of this year, set to be the biggest public health intervention in a generation.
In theory, it aims to protect young people from nicotine addiction and pave the way for a smoke-free UK by 2030 – banning disposable vapes is just the latest in the comprehensive nationwide plans.
After welcoming around 4,500 attendees in its first year, the intimate house and disco festival is coming back.
Goodlife, held in the beautiful grounds of Harewood House, has fast established itself as one of the region’s most exciting new music events.
After its huge success last year, Goodlife will be back this year even bigger and better than before with a capacity ready to welcome 12,000 festival-goers.
The festival will take place on Saturday 6 June, and the lineup is already stacked.
The Main Stage will host an incredible line up of house music heavyweights including Armand Van Helden, Groove Armada, Alison Limerick, Roger Sanchez and Inner City (Live).
The Downtown Disco Stage will once again bring its signature blend of soulful house to the fields of Harewood House with artists announced including The Shapeshifters, Craig Charles, Michael Gray and Ian Ossia.
This year sees a brand-new stage being thrown into the mix called The Goodlife Tavern that will celebrate Yorkshire’s thriving DJ scene, showcasing local artists and shining a spotlight on regional talent.
Artists performing at The Goodlife Tavern will include Darren Cross, Smudged Soul, Alex Malam, Emiiyuu, Kavita, PJ Gardner and Lee Wright.
Liam Hardy, co-founder of New Vision Events, said: "The response to Goodlife’s first year was incredible and we’ve been stunned by the extremely high demand for tickets for this years’ event so far. We always believed there was room for a dedicated house and disco festival in the region, but the atmosphere and support from the crowd last year completely exceeded our expectations.
“For 2026 we wanted to take things up a notch and create something even better. Introducing a third stage allows us to bring more artists to the festival and showcase some amazing local talent, while the increased capacity means even more people can enjoy the Goodlife experience."
Goodlife Festival takes place on Saturday 6 June and you can buy your tickets here.
Plans for Leeds Kirkgate Market ‘container village’, STACK, take huge step forward
Clementine Hall
A planning application has been submitted for a ‘container village’ attraction at Leeds Kirkgate Market.
It was submitted today, Friday 27 March, by STACK Leisure - a company that already runs popular food, drink and entertainment hubs in Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland.
The proposed STACK Leeds venue would be a two-storey structure made up of repurposed shipping containers, located in Leeds Kirkgate Market’s outdoor trading area.
It would feature six bars, eight street food outlets, a coffee shop, a large stage for live entertainment and giant digital screens.
The development is expected to increase footfall and broaden the customer base across the market and would also benefit the wider city centre and its existing hospitality businesses.
Neill Winch, chief executive of STACK Leisure, said: “We know from our previous experience that once STACK opens it brings huge economic benefits to the wider area.
“It will turn a spotlight on the Leeds Kirkgate Market area and bring in greatly increased footfall, not just to STACK Leeds but to both the indoor and outdoor market. One of the many reasons we are successful is because we offer something for everyone – we are family friendly, pet friendly and our entertainment programme is designed to have widespread appeal.
“It is important for us to become part of the local community and celebrate it, while supporting independent businesses at the same time. We firmly believe that STACK Leeds will be a huge asset to the city and we look forward to moving on with the scheme.”
Kikgate Market’s outdoor trading area currently has room for a total of 185 stalls, with around 85 of those being filled.
Should STACK Leeds secure planning approval, the number of pitches would be reduced and the freed-up space used as the location for the scheme.
Danny Jones -
25th October 2024 
