How Old Do You Have To Be To Vape?

In recent years, vaping has become popular among all age groups. However, large numbers of teenagers and young adults have also started vaping, creating a growing concern over access and age restrictions to vape devices in the UK. Vaping was originally developed as a smoking cessation tool, designed to help people quit smoking traditional cigarettes. However, it's become increasingly popular among underage users (many of whom were never smokers to begin with), raising serious public health concerns.

So, how old do you have to be to vape? 

In the UK (and many other countries), there are clear laws that determine the legal age for both purchasing and using vaping products. In this blog, we’ll break down the legal age limits for vaping in the UK, also teaching you why these limits exist and what happens if they're broken.

If you can legally vape within the UK, you should have nothing to worry about. Please browse our collection of vaping devices and e-liquids to create the perfect combination of vaping tools for your needs.

Understanding the Legal Vaping Age in the UK

So, how old do you have to be to vape in the UK? Officially, there are age restrictions for both vaping and smoking within the UK, with the legal age for buying vape products being the same age as it is to buy tobacco products (18). 

However, like with tobacco products, it isn't technically illegal to possess or use a vape under the age of 18. Interestingly, there is no actual age limit for young people who vape or smoke, as the police are more bothered about stopping the retailers that allow these products to be sold illegally to minors. However, they can still confiscate vaping devices and cigarettes from minors under the age of 16, if they see fit. 

In the UK, you must be at least 18 years old to legally purchase or use vaping products, which includes a range of items like:

• Disposable vapes,
• Vape pod systems,
• Standard rechargeable vape kits,
• Nicotine-free vape juice.

However, it is also illegal for adults to buy vapes for anyone under 18, which is known as a 'proxy sale.'

Vaping is intended for adults as it delivers nicotine, which can be harmful to the lungs and brains of individuals under the age of 18. Recent studies have shown that the brain doesn't stop developing until around the age of 25, showing that even vapers who are of age could be affected. 

Additionally, nicotine is an addictive substance. Underage vaping can lead to serious health risks and nicotine addiction, with some people turning to smoking cigarettes as a result of vaping.

Why Is the Minimum Vaping Age Set at 18?

Vape devices have been used for many years in the UK, originally introduced to the market as a way for people to quit smoking tobacco products. This fact largely outlines why the British government decided to implement a similar age frame for vaping.

Essentially, the British government wanted to align the new vaping laws with the current tobacco and alcohol restrictions (both of which are illegal to purchase under the age of 18).  

The legal age of adulthood in the UK (known as the age of majority) is also 18, and there has been some concern about young people becoming addicted to nicotine - especially people who have never smoked before. Because of this, further restrictions have been considered to prevent children from buying vaping devices. These measures include a potential flavour restriction (as it’s thought that the sweet flavours and bright packaging are particularly appealing to children)

The Big Fuss About Big Puff Vapes

However, the British government has also recently rejected proposals to stop youth vaping, which would have prevented the sale and manufacturing of ‘Big Puff’ vape devices. Big Puff devices are single-use vapes that are specifically designed to exploit loopholes in the disposable vape ban, carrying up to six times as much liquid as a typical single-use vape.

Big Puff vape devices usually contain high levels of nicotine and can be highly addictive and dangerous, so it is surprising that the British government has rejected proposals to limit their manufacture and sale.

How Are Vaping Age Restrictions Enforced?

Although the legal age to vape is 18, most British stores follow a 'Think 25' policy, requiring ID verification if somebody appears to be under the age of 25. This ensures that proper age checks are made, allowing responsible adult vapers to purchase vape devices and accessories.

In response to the rise of vaping among young people since 2020, the UK government is currently working to ban disposable vapes. The proposed ban will officially come into force on June 1st, 2025, so you may want to start stocking up now if you prefer the taste of disposable devices. We also have several multi-buy options available for disposable vapes - please see our deals and promotions terms and conditions page for more information. This ban aims to curb underage vaping and protect young people from the dangers of vaping and smoking.

If you witness someone willingly selling vapes to individuals under 18 or purchasing vapes on behalf of someone under the age of 18, it’s crucial that you report it. You can do so through Trading Standards via the Citizens' Advice online portal. Reporting such incidents helps to protect the health of young people across the UK.

Our Efforts to Combat Underage Vaping

Here at VPZ, we are committed to responsible retailing and enforcing strict age verification methods - both in-store and online. We support the upcoming ban on disposable vapes and oppose the new ‘Big Puff’ vapes, prioritising our efforts to reduce youth vaping.

The ban on under-18s was introduced to protect young people from the potential harms of nicotine, also aiming to prevent underage access to tobacco alternatives.

What About the Online Sale of Vapes?

In some respects, it can be much harder to police online vape purchases and check people’s ages online. Age verification is still required by law for online vape sales, but it’s not always effective, leading to many people calling for tighter regulations.

When an account is created with us, we’ll take some details, including your name and date of birth. This information will be used to check your age when you make your purchases from our online store. We can also use Age Checked services to verify your age - you can find out more about how Age Checked works here.

At VPZ, we believe in upholding the letter of the law. We are committed to responsible retailing and enforcing strict age verification both in-store and online. We support the ban on disposable vapes and oppose the new Big Puff vapes, prioritising efforts to reduce youth vaping in the UK. 

The primary purpose of vaping is to help smokers reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke, or quit smoking completely. However, the ease of use of disposable vapes and the fruity flavours available have unfortunately led to many underage people vaping, even if they weren’t smokers to begin with. 

We believe that underage teenagers should not be able to access vapes, and we would advise anyone under the age of 18 to speak to an appropriate adult if they feel that they have become addicted to vaping. 

How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape? Our Final Thoughts

So, how old do you have to be to vape in the UK? As we’ve discussed above,  the legal age to purchase vaping or tobacco products in the UK is 18. This means you must be at least 18 years old to purchase vape products, including things like nicotine salt e-liquids, disposable devices and coils and pods. The rules are clear and enforced to help protect young people from the risks associated with nicotine use.

At VPZ, we take age verification seriously and are fully committed to promoting responsible vaping. It doesn’t matter whether you're just starting out on your vape journey or if you're switching from cigarettes to quit smoking - it’s important to make sure that you're of legal age and understand your responsibilities as a vaper.

For more information on our policies, or to browse our range of TPD-compliant vape products, feel free to explore our site or get in touch with the VPZ team. As well as our usual vaping products, we also have a selection of bundles and deals available for the savvy vaper.