Find Out More About The Restrictions On Vaping In The UK And Across Different Countries
In this blog we will go through the legal age to vape in the UK and take a look at the laws across the world.
Legal Age to Vape in the UK
The legal age to vape in the UK is 18 years old. This also means you must be 18 to buy any vaping related product including e-liquid and e-cigarettes. Vape shops and online stores in the UK are prohibited from selling these products to anyone under the age of 18.
At The Electronic Cigarette Company we have strict age verification processes to ensure we adhere to the current UK legislation.
Is the Legal Age the Same for 0% Nicotine E-liquid?
There is a grey area around the laws for selling zero nicotine e-liquid to under 18s. The law states it is illegal to sell e-liquids containing nicotine to under 18s so this can cause confusion. Like any reputable vape vendor, at the Electronic Cigarette Company we do not sell any e-liquid including nicotine free vape juice to anyone under the age of 18.
What Is the Legal Age to Vape Around the World?
America
In 2019 the US passed a law making the minimum age to vape 21. The laws around vaping in the United States are some of the strictest in the world. However, this is only federal law so states can decide their own laws around vaping[1] if they wish. Many states have less strict age restrictions on vaping with many allowing the sale of e-cigs and vape liquid to over 18s and 19s.
Australia
Australia like the UK has laws in places restricting the age of vaping to over 18s. In terms selling vaping products they are much stricter. According to the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008[2] e-cigs and accessories cannot be displayed inside or outside retailers. The sale and use of e-cigarettes that contain nicotine is prohibited unless the user has a prescription from their doctor.
Canada
In Canada there are no federal laws in place in regards to vaping however each province has its own laws in place[3]. For example, the legal age to buy and use e-cigarettes and other vaping products in Ontario is 19 years old.
Europe
As the UK has just left the EU, the laws around vaping are very similar. The UK has not yet transitioned away from the TPD laws[4] introduced by the EU in 2016 and may stick with them long after Brexit.
Is Vaping Illegal in Any Countries?
As you can see from these examples the laws regarding vaping around the world vary and they are constantly changing with new information and studies being released. Some of the countries that have outright banned vaping are Turkey, Thailand, Belgium, and Mexico.
References
[1] Dur, A. (2021). How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape? Vaping Laws By State. [online] VaporFi. Available at: https://www.vaporfi.com/blog/legal-age-to-vape/
[2] www.health.nsw.gov.au. (n.d.). E-cigarettes – Tobacco and smoking. [online] Available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/e-cigarettes.aspx#:~:text=Under%20the%20Public%20Health%20(Tobacco
[3] Canada Vapes (2016). Canadian Vaping laws. [online] Canadian Vaping Info. Available at: https://canadavapes.com/info/canadian-e-cigarette-laws.html
[4] V2 Vaping UK. (n.d.). Will Vaping Regulations Change After Brexit? [online] Available at: https://www.buyv2cigs.co.uk/blog/will-vaping-regulations-change-after-brexit/
