MORE than two million vapers could switch back to smoking cigarettes because of the Government’s looming crackdown, polling shows.
Disposable e-cigs are being banned from next June, and ministers are also restricting flavours to make them less appealing to kids.
But there are increasing fears this could backfire into previous smokers relapsing, with the Government’s own impact assessment admitting this might happen.
Now fresh polling by Opinium for Elfbar reveals 41 per cent of respondents would switch back to smoking tobacco if single-use vapes and their preferred flavours were banned.
That equates to around 2.3million adult vapers, according to the research.
Some 38 per cent said they would try to continue purchasing disposable vapes or banned flavours “from whichever channels are available”.
Critics have warned of a possible black market boom in illegal vapes.
It is not year clear which flavours would fall foul of the Government’s crackdown, but it is expected to include those that appeal directly to children, like cola and candy floss.
The Opinium survey found fruity flavours were by far the most popular, with 37 per cent smoking them, followed by tobacco flavour on 23 per cent.
Ministers insist action is needed to stop the surge in underage vaping.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give them powers to curb such flavours, as well well as empower cops to hand out on-the-spot fines for suppliers caught selling to kids.
