The legal age to vape in the UK is 18 years old. This applies to all vaping products, including 0% nicotine e-liquids, devices sold without vape juice, and CBD vape products. Details are explained below.
What Age Can You Vape in the UK?
You can legally buy a vape, vape juice, and accessories in the UK if you are 18 years old or older. This rule applies to ALL vaping products, so don’t try to get cute with shortfills and 0% e-juice. Retailers will be liable for penalties if a person under 18 buys vaping products from them.
This restriction is in place across the United Kingdom, meaning it applies throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Why Is There an Age Restriction on Vaping? (The Law Explained)
Vaping is age-restricted in the UK for the same reasons that tobacco smoking is; in order to protect young people from nicotine addiction and potential health risks.
Lawmakers have examined the vaping industry due to concerns that certain flavours and designs of electronic cigarettes may appeal to people under 18. As such, respectable vaping retailers are generally very strict regarding vape sales and do not wish to try to skirt the law, thereby potentially invoking a business-ruining penalty.
While, for a time, newsagents sold disposable vapes to under-18s, the UK-wide ban on disposable vapes that went into effect on June 1st 2025, eliminated this issue by removing the products from shelves entirely.
Other UK Vaping Laws You Should Know
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) rules stipulate these other restrictions on vape products, beyond just age limitations:
- Maximum nicotine strength: 20mg/ml (2%)
- Maximum e-liquid bottle sizes containing nicotine: 10ml (0% nicotine shortfills can be sold in larger bottles, but are still just as age restricted)
- Maximum tank/pod size: 2ml
- Disposable vapes: Banned as of June 1st 2025.
- Vaping products must meet MHRA notification, child-resistant packaging and health-warning requirements.
The EU introduced the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2014, setting limits on e-liquid strength, nicotine container sizes, and the capacity of vape tanks and pods. When the UK left the EU, it kept these rules under a new name: the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR). All the same restrictions still apply, and the 2025 ban on disposable vapes is added on top of them.
Can Adults Buy Vapes for Minors? Are There Legal Consequences?
It is absolutely illegal for an adult to purchase vapes, vape juice, or vape parts for a minor. This is referred to legally as “proxy purchasing” and is treated as strictly as purchasing alcohol or tobacco on behalf of children.
So, what will happen? Well, as an adult engaging in criminal proxy purchasing for a minor, you can be subject to an on-the-spot £90 Fixed Penalty Notice. You can also face prosecution, leading to much larger fines of thousands of pounds in the Magistrates’ Court.
As the retailer, you’re also liable if you knowingly sell to a proxy buyer. You can expect fines of around £2500 for vape sales to minors. You may also face penalties for your premises license or even closure orders.
These restrictions also apply to online vendors. Many vaping websites, such as MIST, use age verification to ensure minors are not making purchases.
Do You Need to Show ID to Buy a Vape in the UK?
Technically, you should. Retailers in the UK are trained to use ‘Challenge 25’. Basically, if you look 25 or under, you should expect to be asked for photo ID when trying to buy a vape.
Passports and driver’s licences are the most commonly accepted forms, though other proof-of-age cards are often accepted when they have a photo of you on them.
Obviously, if you appear middle-aged or elderly, you are unlikely to be asked for ID when purchasing a vape. However, if you are accompanied by someone who appears younger, they may be asked for ID to prevent proxy purchasing.
Need More Help?
So, there you have it! If you want to purchase a vape in the United Kingdom, you need to be 18 years old. If you are a minor, you can’t ask an adult to buy one for you.
If you are an adult and bought your first vape, our guide on how to use a vape can help.