It’s not illegal to vape in public, but… UK law prohibits smoking in enclosed public places, like pubs and restaurants, and workplaces. But these laws DO NOT cover vaping.
Is it legal to vape in the UK?
Vaping is currently legal in the UK, but with various restrictions. The key points are: You are prohibited from vaping in any non-smoking area. This includes pubs, clubs, offices, restaurants, trains and most other public spaces. Many of these places will allow vaping outside, but it’s up to the establishment to decide.
Is vaping allowed in public places?
Therefore, there is no blanket ban on vaping in the majority of public places and indoor locations. Vaping regulations of a particular establishment are created by the property owner and hence tend to vary from place to place. The use of e-cigarettes on buses, trains and planes, however, is generally forbidden.
Is vaping allowed in fast food restaurants in the UK?
Unlike smoking, vaping is not banned in all fast food restaurants, pubs, and cafes. A general rule would be to check with the administrator of the establishment before taking out a vape pen in the UK. Some chain restaurants such as KFC and Starbucks include vaping in their policy against smoking; others distinguish between the two.
Is vaping on the rise in the UK?
In recent years, we have seen an increasing trend of vaping and vape use in Britain and worldwide. The increase follows a report issued by the Royal College of Physicians. RCP research triggered some changes in the UK vaping rules and policies.
How many people die from smoking in England?
What is public health England?
When was the public health consensus statement on e-cigarettes published?
Is it safe to use e-cigarettes?
Is there evidence that e-cigarettes are smoking?
See 2 more
About this website
Is vape allowed in public places?
Public places must have a designated smoking or vaping area (DSVA) for smokers of vaping devices and traditional cigarettes. Smoking and vaping within enclosed public spaces, whether stationary or in motion, is allowed only in DSVAs.
Are you allowed to vape 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.
Where are you allowed to vape in the UK?
Vaping in Restaurants & Cafes Currently, unlike with smoking, there is no blanket ban on vaping in pubs and restaurants. Some pubs may let you use your e cigarette but i's always best to check first.
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 on a bus UK?
Sorry but you can't smoke any type of cigarette on our buses, including electronic cigarettes. This is for the health and safety of all our customers.
Can I vape outside?
If you're going to vape, do it outdoors. Avoid vaping in the home or car. This keeps the air and surfaces inside free of the harmful components, so others don't inhale or come into contact with them on surfaces.
What happens if I vape on a bus?
Can you vape on a bus? Similarly to vaping on trains, vaping on buses is not illegal, but it has been banned by most bus companies for the comfort of other passengers. Stagecoach, Arriva and National Express coaches all prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on board.
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.
Is it legal to vape indoors?
Vaping in pubs is not illegal; there are no specific laws or restrictions on vaping indoors.
Can I vape in 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.
Can you vape inside Wetherspoons?
The Wetherspoons website explains in its FAQ section: “We do not permit the use of electronic cigarettes or vaporisers outside of the designated smoking areas on our premises. This includes hotel rooms and external areas.”
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.
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...
What is the UK's legal stance on vaping in the workplace?
With 2.8 million e-cigarette users now in the UK, there has been a significant amount of consideration about the legality of vaping in the workplace. Vaping might, after all, pose potential health risks to other non-vaping and non-smoking employees in the workplace. Smoking bans occurred in England on 1 st July 2007 as a result of the Health Act in 2006.
E-cigarettes and vaping in the workplace | Acas
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Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces - GOV.UK
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E-cigarettes in public places and workplaces: a 5-point guide to policy ...
1. Make a clear distinction between vaping and smoking. E-cigarette use does not meet the legal or clinical definitions of smoking. Furthermore, international peer-reviewed evidence suggests that ...
Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces - GOV.UK
Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces 5 Balancing risks and opportunities The role of e-cigarettes in tackling tobacco dependency, especially in the long term, is
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.
Giving vapers and non-vapers the facts
It’s estimated that 6.2% of the adult population of Great Britain (3.2 million) vape. If you’re one of them, are you aware of the laws covering vaping in public? Or maybe you’re a business owner looking for clarification? Or a non-vaper simply curious about the laws involved?
Can you vape on public transport?
As a general rule, vaping isn’t allowed on public transport. Like above, it’s down to the operator, but the majority of UK bus, train and airline operators have banned vaping. The train ban on vaping is also often extended to the platforms too.
Can you vape in pubs?
It’s not illegal to vape in a pub, but whether or not you can, depends on the policy of that particular pub. Some pubs have completely banned vaping. Others allow it inside, with some boundaries. And there are pubs who only allow vaping outside.
No UK laws on vaping in public spaces – but restrictions on vaping products sold in the UK
To help protect vapers, the UK Government has introduced certain restrictions on vape products. These include a maximum nicotine level of 20mg/ml. E-liquid containers must have a capacity of 10ml or less. And clearomisers and cartridges can’t hold more than 2ml.
Please vape responsibly
While there are no laws on vaping in public places in the UK, vapers should still respect the policies of businesses and organisations, which might include ‘no vaping inside’.
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.
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.
Does Scotland cover all clinics?
Each separate hospital instills their own rulings and does not cover all clinics. But, the last time we checked, this policy appears to be most widespread in Scotland.
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.
How many people die from smoking in England?
Smoking is the country’s number one killer, causing nearly 78,000 deaths each year in England. While the long-term effect of e-cigarettes is unknown, and they are not completely risk-free, the current evidence indicates that they are significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco and are helping smokers to quit.
What is public health England?
Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.
When was the public health consensus statement on e-cigarettes published?
This was originally published in September 2015.
Is it safe to use e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are still a relatively new product, so it’s understandable that many people and businesses may not know how to deal with them. The evidence so far shows e-cigarettes are much safer than tobacco and they have the potential to help people give up a deadly addiction. It’s important the benefit of using them are maximised while reducing any negative impact, and organisations need independent advice from Public Health England to set out their own policies.
Is there evidence that e-cigarettes are smoking?
There is also no evidence so far that e-cigarettes are acting as a route into smoking for young people. Following extensive stakeholder engagement, PHE created this framework advice to give organisations 5 principles that will help guide the creation of a vaping policy that is right for them, covering the following considerations: ...
