The research found that between January 2021 and August 2023 the percentage of people in Great Britain using disposable e-cigarettes grew from 0.1% to 4.9%. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

A ban on disposable vapes could discourage the use of e-cigarettes among people who are trying to quit smoking, research has found.

The government is considering a ban over concerns that children are using the products and becoming addicted. However, a study by academics at University College London and funded by Cancer Research UK has found it would also affect 2.6 million adults across Great Britain, 1.2 million of whom smoke and a further 744,000 who have previously.

The research, published in the journal Public Health, was based on a survey of 69,973 adults. It found that between January 2021 and August 2023 the percentage of the population using disposable e-cigarettes grew from 0.1% to 4.9%.

The researchers said that although preventing the uptake of vaping by children and those who have never smoked was a “public health priority”, the ban may inadvertently discourage the use of e-cigarettes among people who are trying to quit smoking. The study said: “Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, so it is essential that a ban on disposables does not discourage people who smoke from switching to vaping.”

Dr Sarah Jackson of UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, and the lead author of the study, said: “Our study suggests a ban on disposable e-cigarettes would affect an estimated 2.6 million people in England, Wales and Scotland.

“While banning disposables might seem like a straightforward solution to reduce youth vaping, it could have substantial unintended consequences for people who smoke.

“In the event of a ban, it would be important to encourage current and ex-smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.”

Prof Jamie Brown, the senior author of the study, said: “There is a need for action to reduce disposable vaping among young people who have never smoked. However, trade-offs need to be carefully considered. A ban may discourage use of e-cigarettes among people trying to quit smoking and may induce relapse among those who have already used disposables to quit.

“Cigarettes are far more harmful to our health and are not currently banned, and a ban on disposable e-cigarettes may signal to large numbers of people that these products are worse for our health or that their harm is comparable to that caused by smoking tobacco.”