Are disposable vapes banned in the UK?

Yes. As of June 1, 2025, single-use disposable vapes are banned from sale in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 regulations. Retailers caught selling disposables face unlimited fines.

What is the legal vaping age in the UK?

You must be 18 or older to purchase vaping products in the UK. This applies to all vapes, e-liquids, and accessories. Retailers must verify age before sale.

Is there a vape tax in the UK?

Yes. Starting October 1, 2026, the UK will introduce a Vaping Products Duty at £2.20 per 10mL of e-liquid. Additionally, tobacco duty increases by £2 per 100 cigarettes to maintain price differential.

What's the nicotine limit for vapes in the UK?

The UK follows TPD regulations limiting nicotine to 20mg/mL (2%). E-liquid bottles are limited to 10mL, and tank capacity to 2mL. These limits remain after Brexit.

Can tourists bring vapes into the UK?

Yes. You can bring vaping devices and e-liquids for personal use. For travel from outside the UK, reasonable personal quantities are permitted. There's no specific limit on nicotine strength for personal imports.

Can You Vape in the UK? 2026 Laws, Disposable Ban & Tax Changes

Q: Where can you vape in the UK?

There's no nationwide indoor vaping ban, but most businesses prohibit it. You can generally vape outdoors, in your own home, and in designated areas. Pubs, restaurants, and workplaces set their own policies.

Can You Vape in the UK? The Short Answer

Yes, vaping is legal in the UK, but regulations are tightening:

Disposable vapes banned from June 1, 2025
Vape tax of £2.20 per 10mL starting October 2026
18+ age requirement strictly enforced
20mg/mL nicotine limit (TPD regulations)
10mL max bottle size for nicotine e-liquids
No nationwide indoor ban - businesses set their own policies

The UK has historically been pro-vaping as a smoking cessation tool, with NHS support. However, concerns about youth vaping have triggered significant regulatory changes in 2025-2026.

UK Vaping Laws: The Legal Framework

Key Legislation

The UK's vaping regulations come from multiple sources:

Legislation	Effect
Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016	Implements EU TPD - nicotine limits, packaging, advertising
Health Act 2006	Basis for smoke-free premises (vaping often included by businesses)
Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Amendment)	Disposable vape ban from June 2025
Finance Act 2024	Introduces Vaping Products Duty from October 2026

What's Legal in the UK

Legal:

Refillable vape devices and pod systems
E-liquids up to 20mg/mL nicotine
Bottles up to 10mL (nicotine-containing)
Shortfills (nicotine-free, larger bottles) with nic shots
Open-system mods and tanks
Online and retail purchases (18+)

Illegal (from June 2025):

Single-use disposable vapes
Sale to under-18s
Non-compliant nicotine strengths for retail
Non-registered products

The Disposable Vape Ban

On June 1, 2025, the UK implemented a complete ban on disposable vapes:

What's banned:

All single-use vaping devices
Pre-filled, non-rechargeable devices
Devices designed to be discarded after use

What's still legal:

Rechargeable pod systems (even with pre-filled pods if rechargeable)
Refillable devices
Any vape with a rechargeable battery

Penalties for retailers:

Unlimited fines for selling disposables
Trading standards enforcement
Potential criminal prosecution

The ban aims to address environmental concerns (1.3 million disposables discarded weekly) and youth vaping rates.

The 2026 Vape Tax

The UK government announced a new Vaping Products Duty starting October 1, 2026:

Tax Structure

E-Liquid Type	Tax Rate
All e-liquids (nicotine and non-nicotine)	£2.20 per 10mL

What This Means for Prices

Product	Current Price	Post-Tax Price (Est.)
10mL e-liquid	£5-7	£7-9
4x10mL bundle	£15-20	£24-29
Shortfill 50mL (0mg)	£12-18	£23-29

Tobacco Duty Increase

To maintain the price gap between cigarettes and vapes, tobacco duty will also increase by £2 per 100 cigarettes when the vape tax takes effect.

What Can You Buy in the UK?

Available Products

Devices:

Pod systems (JUUL, Vuse, Elf Bar Mate, Lost Mary Tappo)
Refillable pod mods
Box mods and tanks
All-in-one kits

E-Liquids:

10mL bottles up to 20mg/mL
Shortfills (50mL, 100mL - nicotine-free)
Nic shots (to add to shortfills)
All flavors permitted

Popular Brands

Vuse (formerly Vype) - BAT's flagship brand
JUUL - Pod systems
Elf Bar Mate/Elfa - Rechargeable alternatives to disposables
Lost Mary Tappo - Pod system
Innokin, SMOK, Vaporesso - Open systems

Where to Buy

Vape shops - Specialist retailers nationwide
Supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda stock mainstream brands
Newsagents - Limited selection
Online - Age verification required

Where Can You Vape in the UK?

Unlike smoking, there's no UK-wide indoor vaping ban. However, most businesses prohibit it.

Where Vaping Is Generally Prohibited

Pubs, restaurants, cafes - Most prohibit, some have outdoor areas
Workplaces - Employer discretion, most ban it
Public transport - Banned on trains, buses, the Tube
Shops and malls - Prohibited
Hospitals and NHS premises - Banned (though some have outdoor vape areas)
Schools and universities
Cinemas, theatres - Prohibited

Where Vaping Is Usually Permitted

Outdoors - Generally permitted unless local byelaws apply
Private homes and gardens
Some pubs/clubs - With landlord permission
Designated smoking areas - Often allow vaping
Your own vehicle

Notable Exceptions

Some venues actively accommodate vaping:

Some Wetherspoons pubs - Check individual policy
Vape-friendly cafes - Exist in larger cities
Some music venues - Outdoor areas

Transport

Transport	Vaping Policy
National Rail	Banned on trains and platforms
London Underground	Banned throughout
Buses	Banned
Airports	Banned inside, use designated areas
Ferries	Designated areas only
Taxis/Ubers	Driver discretion, usually no

Regional Differences

Scotland

Same product regulations as England
Considering stricter marketing restrictions
Some councils have stricter public space rules

Wales

Aligned with England on products
Considering workplace vaping ban legislation
Some beach/park restrictions in coastal areas

Northern Ireland

Same regulations
Windsor Framework means some EU alignment may affect future rules

NHS and Vaping

The UK's NHS has historically supported vaping as a quit-smoking tool:

Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking (Public Health England position)
Stop smoking services may recommend vaping
Hospital grounds often have designated vaping areas
Prescribable vapes - Medicinally licensed vapes can be prescribed (limited availability)

Quit Smoking Support

NHS Stop Smoking Services
Free advice: Call 0300 123 1044
Smokefree app available

Penalties and Enforcement

Retailer Penalties

Violation	Penalty
Selling disposables (from June 2025)	Unlimited fine
Selling to under-18s	Up to £2,500 per offense
Selling non-compliant products	Trading standards action
Advertising violations	Regulatory fine

Consumer Penalties

Violation	Penalty
Vaping where prohibited	Venue-specific (ejection, fine)
Providing to minors	Potential prosecution

Traveling to the UK with Vapes

What You Can Bring

Devices: Reasonable quantity for personal use
E-liquid: No specific limit for personal use, but excessive quantities may be questioned
Batteries: Carry-on only, not checked luggage
Higher nicotine: Personal imports aren't restricted to 20mg/mL

Airport Tips

Remove batteries from mods for security
E-liquid in clear bags (100mL rule for carry-on)
Declare large quantities at customs if asked
No vaping inside airports or on aircraft

Bringing Disposables

After June 1, 2025, importing disposables for personal use may be questioned. Bring rechargeable devices to avoid issues.

UK vs. Other European Countries

Country	Nicotine Limit	Flavor Ban	Indoor Ban	Disposable Ban
UK	20mg/mL	No	Business discretion	Yes (June 2025)
Germany	20mg/mL	No	Regional	Proposed
France	20mg/mL	No	Yes (workplaces)	Under discussion
Ireland	20mg/mL	Proposed	Yes	Proposed
Netherlands	20mg/mL	Yes (2023)	Yes	Proposed
Belgium	20mg/mL	Yes	Yes	Under discussion

UK Vaping Laws: Key Takeaways

Disposable vapes banned from June 2025 - Switch to rechargeable alternatives
Vape tax from October 2026 - £2.20 per 10mL, prices will increase
18+ age requirement - Strictly enforced with ID checks
20mg/mL nicotine limit - Higher strengths available for personal import
10mL bottle limit - Use shortfills + nic shots for larger quantities
No nationwide indoor ban - But most businesses prohibit vaping
All flavors legal - No flavor restrictions currently
NHS supports vaping - Recognized as smoking cessation tool
Rechargeable pods are legal - Only single-use devices are banned
Tobacco duty increasing too - To maintain price differential

References

Looking for vaping laws in other countries? Check our complete vaping laws guide for more destinations.