How old do you have to be to vape in the UK?

The Short Answer

In the UK, the minimum legal age for vaping is 18 years old. This age restriction, implemented in October 2015, aligns with the legal age for purchasing traditional tobacco products.

Anyone under 18 is prohibited from buying e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and any related vaping accessories, including nicotine-free vape liquids.

Key Legal Guidelines for Vaping in the UK

The UK's strict age regulations around vaping aim to limit youth access to nicotine products and reduce the risk of addiction.
Here are some of the primary rules:

• Minimum Age Requirement: Only individuals aged 18 or above can legally purchase vape products, including all e-liquids, even those without nicotine.
• Online Sales Regulations: Vaping retailers like us, must confirm buyers' ages through various verification systems, such as requesting photo ID after checkout or using digital age-checking technology. This can apply to deliveries as well, where some companies ask for verification at point of delivery (we request ID before dispatch, for more info click here).
• Proxy Purchasing Laws: It is also illegal for adults to purchase vape products for anyone under the age of 18. This offence, known as "proxy purchasing" it can lead to fines and other legal consequences.

Vaping and Public Health Policies

The UK's regulations are part of a broader public health policy aimed at discouraging nicotine use among young people while supporting adult smokers in quitting.

Health authorities, including the NHS, encourage vaping as a smoking cessation tool for adults, as it poses significantly fewer health risks compared to smoking traditional tobacco. However, public health bodies remain cautious about youth vaping due to potential addiction and the lack of long-term studies on health impacts.

Comparison to Vaping Laws in Other Countries

Internationally, vaping age laws vary. In the United States, for instance, the legal age is 21 across all states, a regulation introduced in 2019 to further curb youth access. In contrast, the UK's minimum age remains 18, but regulators continue to evaluate policies as youth vaping rates fluctuate. Other countries like Australia take an even stricter approach, requiring a prescription for nicotine-containing vapes.

Future Considerations for UK Vaping Legislation

As the vaping industry evolves, UK lawmakers are exploring additional measures, such as the proposed "Tobacco and Vapes Bill" which seeks to limit access to tobacco and may consider similar restrictions for vape products.

This proposed legislation aims to create a "smoke-free generation" by banning tobacco sales to individuals born after a specific year, potentially extending restrictions to nicotine-containing vapes as well.

We have also seen a recent ban on disposable vapes which will be coming into effect from the 1st of June 2025 as a measure to reduce youth vaping across the country and to tackle the environmental impact of improper disposal of these devices.

Summary

In summary, the UK mandates a minimum age of 18 to purchase and use vape products, with rigorous enforcement to prevent youth access. These laws help balance public health goals by promoting vaping as a tool for adult smokers while discouraging nicotine use among young people who never smoked. As policies continue to adapt, these regulations will likely reflect the ongoing research and societal trends surrounding vaping.

Written by Jakub.O