Are there any changes to the UK’s vaping laws?
In the 10 years since vape devices were first sold in the UK, they have gone through a number of changes. These changes haven’t been implemented just to improve the quality of the product, but also the laws governing how they’re made and sold. Here we take a look at the vaping laws in place in the UK and how they might affect you.
Can I vape in my property in the UK?
The latter of these points highlights an important caveat to the current vaping legislation in the UK. Although the government has not presently banned vaping in any particular location, the decision to allow vaping in any space is at the behest of the property owner.
Is it legal to vape in Wales?
Unlike in the US, where several states have moved to impose statewide vaping restrictions, there is currently no official regional legislation regarding the use of vape pens. A bill to prohibit vaping in public spaces where children may be present in Wales came close to being passed last year but didn’t win enough support from MPs.
Can you advertise e-cig vape pens to children in the UK?
Note: Legal repercussions await any attempt at advertising e-cig vape pens to children in the United Kingdom. Almost all hospitals enforce a ban on vaping inside their buildings. They also treat vaporizers much the same as conventional cigarettes. So, it is not uncommon to see prohibited vaping signs in the grounds of hospitals too.
What is vaping product?
When will England go smoke free?
How much nicotine do 16 year olds use?
What is the EU exit regulation?
How many people use vaping in 2020?
How much vaping is there in 2020?
When was the last vaping evidence report published?
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About this website
Is it legal to vape in the UK?
You must be 18 or over to use or purchase e-cigarettes or e-liquids in the UK. The UK government updated the laws on the sale of tobacco and vaping products on 1st of October 2015. This made it illegal for e-cigarette retailers to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18.
Is vaping illegal inside UK?
Despite the law stating that it's perfectly legal to vape indoors, this doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use your e-cigarettes wherever you go.
Is vaping under 18 illegal UK?
In the UK, you must be 18 years old or above to use and purchase vaping products. This also includes vaping products that are 0mg/nicotine free. Retailers found to be selling vaping products to those, underage, can face harsh fines.
Is vaping classed as smoking UK?
No, vaping is not classed as smoking. E-cigarettes aren't the same as conventional cigarettes because they don't contain tobacco, and they aren't burned to produce smoke. Do smoking laws and restrictions apply to vaping? Smoking laws and restrictions do not officially apply to e-cigarettes or heated tobacco.
Are you allowed to vape in Tesco?
A spokesperson for Tesco said: "Our aim is to provide a safe and healthy environment for our colleagues and customers and as such smoking is not allowed in our stores. "Current research suggests there may be risks to passive smokers from e-cigarettes and as such the same restrictions apply."
Can you vape in Wetherspoons?
The Wetherspoons website now states: “We do not permit the use of electronic cigarettes/vaporisers outside of the designated smoking areas on our premises. This includes hotel rooms and external areas.”
How can I tell if my kid is vaping?
Signs a person is vapingA sweet scent in the air. ... Unfamiliar pens and USB drives. ... Drinking more water. ... Nosebleeds. ... Smoker's cough or mouth sores. ... New batteries and chargers. ... Discarded vaping pods and devices.
Is it OK for a 13 year old to vape?
A: The federal minimum age to purchase e-cigarette products is 18, but the laws vary by state – 49 states have set a minimum age that is older than 18. Unfortunately, the majority of underage vaping users are still getting the products from local gas stations or areas in their community that sell the products.
Can I smoke at 16 in the UK?
Smoking and the law You must be over 18 to buy cigarettes in the UK. If you're under 16 the police have the right to confiscate your cigarettes. It's illegal: for shops to sell you cigarettes if you are underage.
Are you still a smoker if you vape?
Vaping is not smoking, but some people find vaping works to help them quit because it offers experiences similar to smoking a cigarette. Vaping has a similar hand-to-mouth action as smoking, and it can also be social.
Is vaping worse than smoking UK?
In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a very popular stop smoking aid in the UK. Also known as vapes or e-cigs, they're far less harmful than cigarettes, and can help you quit smoking for good.
Is vape worse than cigarettes?
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
Can I vape inside my house?
If you vape or allow other people to vape in your home, over time it could pose a risk to your air ducts, which does impact your air quality. Vaping isn't harmless, as manufacturers would want you to believe, and you should do everything you can to limit your exposure.
Is it illegal to vape inside?
Yes, you can vape in public places. There is no law which forbids the use of vaping products in public places. However, rules on the use of e-cigarettes and vape products can be imposed by the setting which you are in.
Can you vape in the workplace UK?
Is it illegal to vape in a business? It is not illegal, of itself, to vape on business premises. This is because e-cigarettes fall outside the legal definition of 'smoking' set out under the UK's smoke-free legislation. However, some organisations may still ban vaping onsite.
Why is vaping not allowed indoors?
Similarly, when vaping happens inside, aerosol containing nicotine settles on surfaces and leaves behind a toxic residue much like tobacco products. Banning all use of electronic nicotine products, including e-cigarettes or “vapes”, inside the home prevents the build-up of toxic aerosol residue.
Aim of the report
This is the seventh report in a series of independent reports commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) to summarise evidence on vaping products...
Methods
The report uses 2 surveys for information on vaping and smoking among young people in England: The Action on Smoking and Health Smokefree Great Bri...
Vaping among young people
Main findingsData reported in this chapter were collected in September 2019 (from the ITC Youth survey) and in March 2020 (from the ASH-Youth surve...
Vaping among adults
Main findingsData reported in this chapter came from 4 different surveys. Most data were from the STS, collected between January and October 2020,...
Effect of vaping on smoking cessation and reduction
Main findingsThe following are the main findings from nationally representative survey data (STS). Using a vaping product is the most popular aid u...
Authors and citation
Suggested citationMcNeill, A., Brose, L.S., Calder, R., Simonavicius, E. and Robson, D. (2021). Vaping in England: An evidence update including vap...
Vaping in England: evidence update February 2021 - GOV.UK
Annual update of Public Health England’s e-cigarette evidence review by leading independent tobacco experts. This report covers vaping for smoking cessation.
Vaping in England: 2020 evidence update summary - GOV.UK
1. Aim of the report. This is the sixth report in a series of independent reports commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) to summarise evidence on e-cigarettes to inform policies and ...
Is vaping harmful? | Cancer Research UK
Research so far shows that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking. But they are not risk-free because we don’t yet know their long-term effects.
What are the restrictions on vaping in the UK?
Vaping is currently legal in the UK, but with various restrictions. The key points are:
Why can't people vape indoors?
The logic is that people shouldn’t vape indoors because other people don’t like it. This is just one of the ways in which public health policy is becoming less democratic. It used to be that if there were two or three smokers in a restaurant, they could smoke if they didn’t bother anyone else; now it seems smokers can’t smoke even when they are all alone.
Does vaping help with tinnitus?
Vaping has been known to help users with Tinnitus by reducing the perceived noise that is said to be caused by this condition. Vaping can also improve wellness by increasing blood circulation and lowering blood pressure. T
Is vaping harmful?
Benefits of vaping are many. The biggest benefit is that, although it is considered a harmful alternative to smoking tobacco, the truth is that it does not cause any direct harm. It can however cause some indirect harm for pregnant women and children. When these two groups of people avoid vaping, they will be able to avoid the secondary side effects of smoking. As more and more people switch from smoking to vaping, the benefits of vaping will become more and more obvious and the risks associated with it less significant.
Is vaping legal indoors?
There is currently no nationwide ban on vaping indoors, although some employers may enforce their own ban. These bans are usually specific to the building or premises rather than the individual business, so you may be allowed to vape in one shop or bar owned by the same company but not another.
What are the restrictions on vaping?
The size and strength of e-liquids are currently limited by the EUTPD. Any e-liquid container must be no more than 10ml in capacity. Further to this, clearomisers and cartridges cannot have a capacity of more than 2ml. The maximum nicotine strength of e-liquid is currently set at 20%, having been lowered from 24%.
How long do vapes have to be approved?
There is also a 6 month grace period before any submitted item can be sold.
Is there a vape beach in Wales?
A public beach in Wales also hit the headlines back in March when it declared its space to be smoke-free. This decision was extended to include vape products, although it’s worth noting that no legal sanction is in place for anyone vaping in this area.
Is vaping legal in Wales?
Unlike in the US, where several states have moved to impose statewide vaping restrictions, there is currently no official regional legislation regarding the use of vape pens. A bill to prohibit vaping in public spaces where children may be present in Wales came close to being passed last year but didn’t win enough support from MPs. A public beach in Wales also hit the headlines back in March when it declared its space to be smoke-free. This decision was extended to include vape products, although it’s worth noting that no legal sanction is in place for anyone vaping in this area. In other words, you will not be punished for vaping, only asked to stop.
What are the legal restrictions on vaping?
The legal restrictions that govern vaping mostly relat e to the production and promotion of the product. Regulations such as these are at the heart of governments wanting to ensure vapers and the general public are not exposed to unnecessary risks.
What happens if you vape when driving?
If you vape when you drive and your car is full of vapour you will be pulled over for driving without due care and attention. Makes sense, since if you allow a large white plume to surround you and you are traveling along a motorway at 70mph you are putting your life, as well as those of your passengers and other road users, in danger.
How many points can you get for vaping while driving?
Vaping while you drive may not seem like such a big deal but it could land you with up to nine penalty points and a fine of £2,500. Once again, it isn’t the act of vaping that will get you into trouble but the repercussions of it, and when you drive it is the plume of vape that could lead you to deep water.
How much nicotine can you put in an e-liquid?
Previously the maximum volume of nicotine permitted in an e-liquid was 24 milligrams per milliliter but this has been reduced to 20 mg/ml following the extensive debate and on the advice of medical advisers. Additionally, an e-liquid container must have a capacity of 10 ml or less.
How long has it been since e-cigarettes were invented?
It’s been 11 years since e-cigarettes first appeared in British shops. Since then, new vaping laws have been brought into force to govern their manufacture and promotion, and old smoking laws have been reinforced to take into account the rights of the avid Brit vaper.
How many ml of e-liquid is legal?
Additionally, an e-liquid container must have a capacity of 10 ml or less. But there are also laws that govern how companies promote their brands of e-liquid and vaping in general. For instance, a company is, by law, forbidden to say that vaping their product is safer than smoking tobacco. Additionally, new e-liquids must be scrutinised by ...
Is vaping legal in the UK?
Although there is no legal restriction to vaping in the UK there are local laws and bylaws in force that prohibit the practice.
How many ml can an e-liquid container hold?
The maximum permitted capacity of e-liquid containers also has certain restrictions and limitations of use. The containers must not exceed 10 ml and clearomizers and cartridges must not have a capacity larger than 2 ml.
Should vapers be separated?
When it comes to matters of public health, the recommendation is for companies to arrange a separate space for vapers. In fact, Public Health England also encourage people to use e-cigarettes instead of combustible tobacco products.
Can you vape outside?
Vaping Rules Outside. In general, the same rules apply to outdoor locations as they do to spaces indoors. Thus, the property owner can determine whether to allow people to vape on their premises.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
Thus, vaping could be up to 20 times less harmful than smoking tobacco products. There can be little doubt that vaping electronic cigarettes has benefits for smokers trying to quit the habit. What's more, the mechanism of vapor production is a lot safer for bystanders to breathe.
Can you vape in the workplace?
Vaping in the Workplace. Some of the rules on smoking in the workplace do not apply to vapers. Some companies regulate whether their employees can vape or not and whether there is a designated area for doing so. As a rule, most companies with designated areas for smoking will also allow workers to use electronic cigarettes.
Can you vape in a hospital?
Almost all hospitals enforce a ban on vaping inside their buildings. They also treat vaporizers much the same as conventional cigarettes. So, it is not uncommon to see prohibited vaping signs in the grounds of hospitals too.
Does the London Underground allow vaping?
In case you were wondering, the London Underground prohibits all vaping activities.
What is vaping product?
The term ‘vaping products’ describes e-cigarettes and refill containers and e-liquids.
When will England go smoke free?
A government consultation in 2019 outlined a new ambition to go smokefree in England by 2030. It also included an ultimatum to industry to make smoked tobacco obsolete by 2030, with smokers quitting or moving to reduced risk nicotine delivery systems, such as vaping products.
How much nicotine do 16 year olds use?
The most common nicotine strength used by 16 to 19 year olds who had vaped in the past 30 days was under 20 milligrams per millilitre (mg/mL) (54.0%). One-fifth (19.6%) of participants did not know the strength of their vaping liquid, 18.0% used a strength of 20mg/mL or over, and 6.6% used 40mg/mL or over.
What is the EU exit regulation?
The government has introduced new regulations, The Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, to make sure the UK meets its obligations in relation to tobacco control and vaping product policies under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
How many people use vaping in 2020?
Using a vaping product is the most popular aid used by people trying to quit smoking. In 2020, 27.2% of people used a vaping product in a quit attempt in the previous 12 months. This compares with 15.5% who used NRT over the counter or on prescription (2.7%), and 4.4% who used varenicline.
How much vaping is there in 2020?
little change in levels of vaping over the last few years with current vaping (at least once per month) prevalence being 4.8% in March 2020, the same as in March 2019
When was the last vaping evidence report published?
This report covers the latest evidence on prevalence and characteristics of vaping in young people and adults in England, with a particular focus on data emerging since the last vaping evidence report published in early 2020.
