How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape in the UK? Legal Age Laws & Penalties Explained
Is it legal to use a vape at 16 years old in the United Kingdom? What happens if someone sells a vaping product to a minor? These are just some of the questions that teenagers and parents often ask regarding vaping laws in the UK. There are many regulations about vaping in the UK, but vaping laws can be confusing when it comes to usage of a vape, age verification and who is legally liable for selling vapes. Here, UK Vape Kings will provide you with everything you need to know about How Old Do You Have to be to Vape in the UK, with details about legal age laws & penalties.
What Is the Legal Age to Vape in the UK?
Individuals in the United Kingdom who wish to buy any vape products must be a minimum of 18 years old regardless of which country they live in, be this: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
This includes all types of vaping:
- Vaping devices and kits
- Nicotine-containing e-liquids
- Nicotine-free e-liquids
- Replacement pods, coils and other accessories for vaping products
No retailer can sell any vaping item to someone younger than 18. This is part of other national public health & safety requirements aimed at limiting young people's access to nicotine.
Some retailers may not sell e-liquids that do not contain nicotine to minors. However, this is due to the fact that they want to comply with all UK retail standards.
Is It Illegal to Vape Under 18 in the UK?
This is one of the areas that are often confused. The focus of the law around vaping is towards the selling of vaping products rather than simply the use of the products.
Key points to understand:
- It is against the law for any shop to sell vaping products to those younger than 18
- It is illegal for someone aged under 18 to purchase any vaping device or e-liquid.
- The focus of the law is based on retailers not the person using e-cigarettes.
It is important to note that there are also different policies within individual schools, colleges and public places which do not allow minors to vape.
UK Laws on Selling Vapes to Minors
There are specific rules in effect for England and Wales that retailers must follow when selling vape items to ensure the following:
- Minors do not get access to vape products
- Retailers sell vape products responsibly
When selling vape products, a retailer is required to:
- Verify the age of the person before selling them vape products
- Refuse to sell the item where it is suspected that the buyer is under 18 years old
- Ask the person to provide some form of identification if they have any doubts about their age
Most retailers follow the “Challenge 25” policy. This means that if a person who looks to be 25 years old or less is buying a vape product, then they will need to provide valid identification to prove that they are over 18 years of age.
Commonly accepted forms of identification include:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Valid official PASS card
Being compliant with the law and protecting children from being introduced to nicotine products as a result of illegal sales of vape products is achieved by retailers conducting the above checks.
Penalties for Selling Vapes to Under 18
Underage sales of vape products to a person who is under the minimum legal age is a serious offence and government authorities, such as Trading Standards, routinely use enforcement processes to determine whether or not retailers are operating in compliance with the law. A retailer may face the following consequences for violating this law:
- Financial penalties
- Issuance of warnings
- Enforcement action by the local government
- Increased frequency of monitoring for repeat offenders
Can Parents Buy Vapes for Their Children?
Many people think that buying a vape for their child is acceptable because they are their parent. However, this is not always true and buying vapes for your children is discouraged due to the potential dangers. This practice of "proxy purchasing", where an adult buys a restricted product for someone under the age of 18 is limited by law.
The age restrictions on vaping products are meant to protect youth. Purchasing or using a vape without following the age restrictions may expose you to legal and ethical issues.
Do the Same Laws Apply to Nicotine-Free Vapes?
A question that many people have is whether it is legal for an adult to sell a non-nicotine vape product to someone under the age of 18. Most retailers will look at non-nicotine products the same as nicotine products even though they do not contain nicotine.
- Most retailers will check for proof of age.
- Most retailers will only sell products to customers who are 18 or older.
- Most retailers have a uniform company-wide policy when it comes to all vape products.
Why the UK Has Age Restrictions on Vaping
The overall intention of vaping legislation is to:
- Protect young people from nicotine addiction
- Reduce the likelihood of young people trying vaping products at an early age
- Regulate how products are advertised and sold
- Support long-term objectives for public health
What Happens If a Teen Is Caught Buying a Vape?
Anyone under the age of 18 will have their request for a purchase refused at the point of sale. Retail staff are trained to check IDs to comply with laws and regulations governing the sale of vaping products.
In a school or public setting:
- A vape may be confiscated
- Disciplinary action may be taken
- An adult may be notified about the incident
UK Vaping Laws vs Smoking Laws
In the UK, the legal age to smoke and the legal age to use vaping products is 18. Both smoking and vaping are considered controlled substances and are regulated to minimise the sale of both to individuals under 18 years old as well as to promote good public health.
There are many similarities between vaping laws and laws governing the sale of smoking products including:
- Minimum age of purchase is 18
- Retail stores must conduct ID checks
- The purchaser must provide their ID to the retailer to complete the purchase
- Local authorities are responsible for enforcing both laws
FAQs About How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape in the UK
Question 1: What is the legal age to vape in the UK?
Answer: You must be at least 18 years old to legally buy vapes, e liquids or related products because retailers are not allowed to sell vape items to individuals under the age of 18.
Question 2: Are vape products without nicotine restricted by age in the UK?
Answer: Yes. Even though nicotine free vapes are typically handled similarly by retailers to vapes that contain nicotine and the sale of both is forbidden for customers under 18.
Question 3: Are there exceptions to the prohibition of individuals under 18 purchasing vapes?
Answer: Buying vape products for an individual under 18 is prohibited or otherwise known as proxy purchasing.
Question 4: Do all online retailers check age before selling vapes in the UK?
Answer: Yes. Some online retailers (in the UK) will verify age at checkout, while others will verify age before delivering a product.
Question 5: Is the minimum age to purchase a vape the same as the minimum age to purchase cigarettes?
Answer: Yes, the minimum legal age to purchase cigarettes or vapes in the UK is 18.
Question 6: Is there an age limit to vaping in the UK?
Answer: The legal age to buy vapour products in the UK is 18 and the reason for this is to reduce tobacco access for young people and reduce their exposure to nicotine.
