While most of us are well aware of the rules around smoking, vaping is a newer experience, and the rules and laws around buying and using vape products are not as well-known. With vaping now a popular alternative to smoking, we take a look at some of the laws around vaping, including what the legal age to vape is.
What Is the Legal Age to Vape in the UK?
The legal age for vaping in the UK is 18. This means you have to be 18 or older to purchase and use e-cigarettes, vaping products and E-Liquid in the UK.
The legal vaping age is in accordance with the government's laws on the sale of tobacco, which were updated on the 1st of October 2015 to also cover vaping products.
What is the Legal Age to Buy Vape Juice in the UK?
It is illegal for vape retailers to sell vaping products to those under the age of 18; this includes E-Liquid, vape kits, and related products like coils and atomisers.
Laws around the purchase of vape products are the same in store and online in the UK, with customers needing to provide age verification when buying from a website. Proof of age may need to be shown upon delivery of products also.
It is important to know that it is also illegal to purchase vaping products on behalf of someone under the age of 18. If you are found to be buying or providing vapes to under 18s, you can be fined up to £2,500.
Can You Buy Nicotine Free-Vape Juice Under the Age of 18?
Even 0mg E-Liquids are prohibited from being purchased by those under 18, as it is classed as a vaping accessory and can be used to create a product that contains nicotine if combined with a nic shot.
Therefore, you have to be over the age of 18 to purchase vape juice, even if it contains no nicotine.
Vaping Laws vs Cigarette Laws
The legal age for purchasing both cigarettes and e-cigarettes is the same in the UK, as you need to be over the age of 18 years old to buy and use either.
While this law is the same, there are some differences between the restrictions and laws for vaping and smoking.
Following the 2007 smoking ban, it is illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces or those that have a no smoking sign. Vaping is not included in this law, so technically speaking, it is not illegal to vape in public enclosed spaces. However, it is important to note that any signs or requests to not vape in a public space must be followed.
What Are the Age Restrictions on Vaping in Other Countries?
The age at which you can vape varies around the world; in fact, there are many countries where vaping is banned outright. In most European countries, like France, Spain, Germany and Sweden, the legal vaping age is 18, like in the UK.
In America, the legal age to vape is 21. It used to be 18, like in the UK, but was raised in 2019 in an attempt to tackle underage vaping.
A country with a lower legal age for vaping is Belgium, where you can legally vape nicotine-free E-Liquids at 16. As a 16-year-old on holiday in Belgium, you would be able to legally purchase and vape a nicotine-free vape juice; however, it would then be confiscated by Customs upon returning to the UK.
We hope this has informed you on how old you have to be to vape in the UK. If you are over 18, you can find cheap E-Liquid deals here at RED Box Vape to help you on your journey to becoming smoke-free.