Are vapes being banned in the UK?

Disposable vapes are set to be banned in Britain as part of a plan to tackle the rise in young people vaping and to protect children’s health.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce the plan to implement the ban – which is expected to come into force at the end of 2024 or the start of 2025 – during a visit to a school on Monday.

New data shows the number of children vaping in the past three years has tripled, the Government said, adding that use among younger children is also rising, with nine per cent of 11- to 15-year-olds now using vapes. It has increased nine-fold among older teens.

The ban forms part of the Government’s response to its consultation on smoking and vaping, which was launched in October last year.

The number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years and there is strong evidence to suggest that cheap and easy-to-use disposable vapes are partly to blame.

Our research shows that in 2023, around 69 per cent of vapers aged 11 to 17 in Great Britain were using disposable vapes, up from 7.7 percent in 2021. This is extremely worrying given the unknown long-term health impacts and the addictive nature of the nicotine in vapes.

While vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, the NHS advises that you shouldn’t take it up if you don’t already smoke– and children should never vape.

Here’s what we’re doing to prevent children from vaping and smoking to protect their health, both in school and out.

Are disposable vapes being banned?

Yes, the sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned in England, Scotland and Wales because of their appeal to young people. Northern Ireland will also consider introducing this in future.

Alongside this, to make vapes less attractive to children, we're strengthening the regulation of vape flavours, packaging and how they are displayed in shops.

To crack down on underage sales, trading standards officers will have the power to issue an ‘on the spot’ fine of up to £100 when they spot the sale of tobacco and vapes to children in England and Wales.

The ban is being introduced after a public consultation on smoking and vaping showed nearly 70 percent of respondents including parents, teachers, healthcare professionals were in favour of the measure.

Adults will still have access to non-disposable vapes to help them to stop smoking.

When will the disposable vape ban begin?

We aim to bring in legislation to ban disposable vapes as soon as possible.

Any legislation will allow for a buffer period of at least 6 months, to allow businesses to adapt.

What action are you taking to stop young people smoking?

It will soon be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

The measures, which we announced in October, means that children turning 15 this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco.

Stopping young people from ever starting to smoke will protect an entire generation from smoking harms as they grow up.

What are you doing to prevent vaping in schools?

Schools are legally required to have a behaviour policy that sets out what is expected of pupils, including what items are banned from school premises. Some schools have already banned vapes.

In Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), pupils in primary and secondary school are taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and their risks, including smoking, alcohol and drugs.

We are currently reviewing the RSHE curriculum, including looking at strengthening content around smoking and vaping, and will launch a public consultation on a revised version as soon as possible.

We have also published training resources for teachers, including one on drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which makes specific reference to e-cigarettes and vaping.

Where can you vape legally right now?

Vaping laws are a bit of a grey area and differ drastically from those regulating smoking.

At present, you must be 18 or older to buy and use a vape in the UK.

Vape cartridges — the liquid that goes in them — must not hold more than two millilitres of liquid or contain more than 20 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre.

While selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, nicotine-free products can be sold.

Vaping is allowed in the UK at present and there are no nationwide legal restrictions or laws enforced on vaping in public areas. The use of vaping devices indoors is generally permitted in the UK, unless a specific establishment or public area has imposed a ban. However, individual businesses and organisations have the discretion to implement their own policies regarding vaping on their premises.

Where in the world are vapes banned?

The UK isn’t the only country to have proposed a ban on disposable vapes. A number of countries around the world have already introduced bans on e-cigarettes. Here are all the countries that have imposed a ban on disposable vapes so far:

Europe

• Turkey
• Vatican City

At the time of writing, the UK and France have proposed the implementation of a ban on disposable vapes.

Asia

• Bhutan
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Japan (vaping non-nicotine e-liquid is legal)
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Lebanon
• The states of Penang, Kedah, Johor, Kelantan in Malaysia
• N. Korea
• Nepal
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Turkmenistan

Africa

• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Ghana (unless you have a prescription)
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Uganda

Oceania

• Australia (unless you have a prescription)

Americas

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Suriname
• Venezuela
• Uruguay

FAQ

Can I bring a vape back to the UK?

Vape devices, including disposable vapes must be kept in your hand luggage at all times while in an airport and after boarding the plane. As they contain lithium-ion batteries, which can be a fire risk, they must kept in your hand luggage.

Is vaping allowed in UK airports?

Using e-cigarettes at UK Airports. Using e-cigarettes is banned at all UK airports. Heathrow briefly permitted the use of e-cigarettes and hit the headlines in November 2013 when it became the first airport to create a dedicated vaping area, which was located in Terminal 4.

Can you buy a vape in England?

At present, you must be 18 or older to buy and use a vape in the UK. Vape cartridges — the liquid that goes in them — must not hold more than two millilitres of liquid or contain more than 20 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre. While selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, nicotine-free products can be sold.