UK Vaping Laws

If you are looking to travel to the UK in the near future, you will have to be clued-up on their vaping laws and regulations. Unlike South Africa where the vaping laws are not yet heavily regulated, the UK has a few more rigid rules regarding vaping, advertising, and related products. Local laws affect the areas in which you are allowed to vape, while national laws have been enforced to regulate the safety and quality of vaping-related products.

Where Can I Vape In The UK?

The UK has a couple of legal restrictions when it comes to where you are allowed to vape, and these restrictions are different from region to region. Although these restrictions are mostly designated policies that apply to select companies and establishments, it is important to adhere to these rules and refrain from vaping if you do not want to be detained for bending the rules.

Vaping In Public Areas

There are not any legal restrictions regarding vaping in public spaces, but there are a few local laws that may prohibit vaping. Although it is well known that vapour does not pose the same danger as cigarette smoke, it is considered polite to ask if you are allowed to vape around others. The smoking ban does not apply to e-cigarettes, but you cannot simply assume that you will be allowed to vape wherever you like.

Vaping In A Vehicle

You will not be breaking any laws if you choose to vape while driving, but you may get pulled over if it looks like your vapour is obstructing the driver’s view. If you get pulled over and charged for this event, you will have to pay a large fine and receive up to nine points on your licence (this will be enforced whether you are from the UK). It is best to keep one of your car windows open when vaping to make sure that the vapour can escape and nobody’s vision is clouded.

Vaping On Public Transport

There are no national laws that prohibit vaping on public transport, but most public transport companies in the UK have implemented specific policies that prohibit vaping on buses, trains, platforms, and stations. The restrictions for vaping onboard planes is by far the most stringent.

Vaping In Bars And Pubs

Most bars and pubs have enforced the same restrictions to vaping as cigarettes. There are usually designated smoking areas, which is usually the only space where you will be allowed to vape as well. Some bars and pubs do allow vaping within the establishment, but make sure to check the specific policies before you start puffing away.

Vaping Product Restrictions

Since the introduction of the Tobacco & Related Products Regulations (TRPR) to the UK occurred in 2017, some rules around vaping products and related policies have been changed. Here is a summary regarding some of the restrictions on vaping related products:

• The maximum volume of e-liquid that contains nicotine is restricted to a maximum of 10 ml per container
• Vaping tanks must have a capacity of no more than 2 ml
• Products that contain nicotine must have packaging that is child-resistant and easily shows tampering
• Certain ingredients used in e-liquids have been banned, including colourings, taurine, and caffeine
• Updated labelling requirements should be followed and warnings on packaging must be present and clear
• E-liquids have been restricted to a maximum nicotine strength of 20 mg per millilitre (2%)
• The requirements on all e-liquids and vaping devices should be notified to the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can be sold to the public

Vaping Age Restrictions

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the 

Environment (COT) has deemed vaping products as a beneficial replacement for traditional cigarettes. They encourage users who have been using tobacco products for extended periods of time to make the switch to vaping, as it will lead to an overall improvement to health. 

There are, however, concerns around the youth and people who have not previously used nicotine-related products that take up vaping. The UK has put safety measures into place to try and reduce the amount of new nicotine users.

Just like South Africa, you must be 18 years or older in order to purchase vaping products or e-liquids. In the UK, it is also illegal to include models that appear to be younger than 25 in any vaping advertisements. This was largely put into place to discourage the youth from taking up smoking or vaping.

Classification As Medicinal Products

Whereas the majority of vaping products were originally classified as consumer products in the UK, this classification has changed over the years depending on nicotine levels. As consumer products, vaping products were subject to the existing product safety legislation as enforced by Trading Standards. This included areas such as:

• Safe manufacturing processes
• Accurate marketing and labelling
• Electrical safety of chargers and batteries

In 2013, the UK Government determined that all products containing nicotine should be regulated as medicines in order to make the products safer and more effective in reducing the harmful effects of smoking. As a result, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was brought in to conduct research on the use and safety of vaping products.

Their research concluded that the quality of vaping products varied considerably, and that labelling was, more often than not, inaccurate. Many products were poorly manufactured, containing contaminants and producing cartridges and tanks that were not leak resistant. Since then, a lot of improvements have been made to vaping devices, so you can be sure to get quality products if you purchase them from a reputable distributor. 

As a result, any nicotine products that have a nicotine content higher than 2 mg per ml must be placed on the market as medicinal products regarding their quality and safety. Users require a medical certificate to buy these products. E-liquids that do not exceed the nicotine content of 2 mg per millilitre can be marketed and sold without a medical licence. 

If you find yourself in the UK, be sure to adhere to public vape restrictions. It is always safe to just vape at home, in your Bed-and-Breakfast, or hotel room because e-liquids will leave no scent behind and do not set off smoke detectors. When walking around in public, you can try some stealth vaping if you really feel those nicotine cravings hit. Remember that you will only be able to buy products that have a nicotine content over 2 mg per millilitre, so be sure to bring along your own juice if they adhere to the air travel guidelines.