Youth & Underage Concerns
You must be 18 or older to buy any vaping product, including devices, e-liquids, pods, coils, or accessories. Selling to under-18s is illegal. (gov.uk)
No — it’s illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase, use, or possess nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in public places. Enforcement focuses on retailers and adults supplying minors. (gov.uk)
No — as of June 2025, single-use disposable vapes are banned entirely. This protects youth from easy access to high-nicotine disposable products.
Nicotine can affect brain development in teenagers, leading to addiction, impaired memory, and attention issues. This is why strict age restrictions exist.
Flavours such as candy, dessert, or fruity blends can appeal to under-18s, which is why the UK regulates marketing and restricts flavour advertising to adults.
Evidence suggests that vaping among UK youth is mainly experimentation, and regular vaping among non-smokers is rare. Strong regulation and age verification reduce this risk.
UK retailers must ask for photo ID (passport, driving licence, or PASS-approved proof-of-age card) for anyone appearing under 25. Failing to check age can result in fines or criminal charges.
Yes — campaigns like “Stoptober” and “Talk to your kids about vaping” educate youth and parents about nicotine risks and the law.
Yes — schools can prohibit vaping on campus and enforce discipline policies for students caught using e-cigarettes. Many UK schools treat vaping like smoking.
- Talk openly about health risks of nicotine.
- Encourage support services for quitting.
- Contact local authorities if illegal sales are suspected.