vaping – Photographic Journalism

On the 1st of June 2025, all disposable vapes will be banned in England, Wales and Scotland. Reusable and chargeable vapes will remain legal and available to buy but with a higher tax.

The aim of the ban is to limit new starters from getting addicted, as breaking the habit once you’re addicted can be too hard to even comprehend.

Jamie McKinley has been smoking since he was 11 years old, he isn’t looking to give up anytime soon after going between vaping and smoking for the past few years.

He said: “I’ve given up trying to give up, I’ve smoked for 39 years, it’s a hard habit to break, it’s a routine.”

After smoking for so many years McKinley went on to vaping, after 2 years of vaping his doctor instructed him to stop vaping because of fluid in his lungs. He went back to smoking due to this.

The main reason for the vaping ban is to stop children from getting addicted to nicotine, in any form.

According to Ash Smokefree GB Youth Surveys, 8% of 11-17-year-olds were vaping in April 2023, which has increased by 4% from 2020.

McKinley’s friend Kostas Papanastasiou is younger and only vapes, he wants to give up vaping for his health. He said: “You shouldn’t smoke and you shouldn’t vape.”

Across Leeds, small businesses like barber shops, vape stores and newsagents are struggling to bring in revenue with the high costs of rent and the lack of customers.

Abdullah who is a small business owner is finding it tough to balance costs with revenue as he does not see as many people in his shop.

Photo of a vape and newspaper shop in Leeds that has struggled since the Covid-19 pandemic. — Small business owner struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo By Matthew Caines

The small shop was a newsagent but had to change to a vape and juice bar in the heart of the Merrion centre.

Abdullah said: ” Yeah in the sense of like there are less customers now than there used to be especially after Covid.”

The pandemic affected millions of businesses across the UK with some shutting down and others needing to change to stay alive.

According to the Yorkshire evening post nine small businesses shut down in the summer of 2024 which were public favorites. Some of those include, Graveley’s Fish and Chips, Ted Baker in the city centre and Poppy’s Potting shed.

According to The Times the number of private businesses fell by 56,000 in the start of 2024. This accumulated to a total of 500,000 since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Abdullah’s vape and juice shop has started selling new items to try bring new customers in by selling disposable E- cigarettes.

Small businesses will continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis and the lack of spending customers have in Leeds.