What is zero nicotine vape?

What is in a 0mg e-liquid

The ingredients are the same as nicotine e-liquid minus the nicotine. Three components.

• VG (vegetable glycerine): Usually the largest component. Produces vapour and provides smooth inhale. Typically 50-80% of the liquid.
• PG (propylene glycol): Carries flavour compounds. Provides what little throat hit there is. Typically 20-50% of the liquid.
• Flavouring: Food-grade flavour concentrates. Usually 5-15% of the total liquid.
• What is not in it: Nicotine. That is the only difference from nicotine e-liquid.
• Calories: VG has roughly 4.3 calories per gram. A 10ml bottle of e-liquid contains around 40 calories worth of VG. Not absorbed through vaping in any significant amount.

Who uses zero nicotine

Why ex-smokers reach 0mg

The most common path to 0mg vaping is gradual step-down from higher nicotine strengths. A typical journey looks like this.

1. Start at 20mg salt nicotine

   Most heavy ex-smokers begin at 20mg in MTL pod kits. Replaces cigarette satisfaction.

2. Drop to 10mg salts (3-6 months in)

   Cravings reduce. 10mg still satisfies. Reduces dependency level.

3. Move to 6mg freebase (6-12 months in)

   Often involves switching device type to sub-ohm or restricted DTL. Different throat sensation.

4. Drop to 3mg freebase (12-18 months in)

   Most common end-state for ex-smokers who continue vaping long-term. Light, gentle nicotine satisfaction.

5. Mix 3mg with 0mg shortfills

   Gradual reduction. Mix bottles at progressively lower final nicotine strengths over weeks.

6. Switch to 0mg entirely

   The final step. No more nicotine. Keeps the ritual, flavour and habit without dependency.

7. Eventually stop vaping (optional)

   Some 0mg vapers continue indefinitely. Others phase out the habit entirely. Either is fine.

This is the recommended path by most UK stop-smoking services. Most ex-smokers take 2-3 years to reach 0mg comfortably. Some never reach it and stay at 3mg long-term. Both are reasonable outcomes from a public-health perspective.

0mg is not harmless

Removing nicotine reduces the addiction risk but does not make vaping harmless. 0mg still contains PG and VG which are inhaled. Some users continue to experience PG sensitivity.

• PG/VG inhalation: Same as with nicotine vapes. Long-term effects still being studied.
• Flavour compounds: Some flavour compounds may have inhalation-specific concerns. Diacetyl (linked to lung issues) has been banned in EU vape liquids since 2017 but other concerns may emerge.
• Habit behaviours: The ritual of vaping is itself a behavioural pattern. Some health professionals point out that maintaining the habit, even without nicotine, may not be neutral.
• Public health view: The NHS and Royal College of Physicians position vaping as substantially less harmful than smoking. 0mg vaping is presumably even safer than nicotine vaping but is not the same as not vaping.
• What 0mg avoids: Nicotine addiction, nicotine cravings if you stop, withdrawal symptoms, the cardiovascular effects of nicotine.

UK regulations on 0mg products

0mg products are regulated differently from nicotine products. Some restrictions apply, others do not.

0mg e-liquid formats

0mg products come in similar formats to nicotine products plus some specifically 0mg ones.

• Shortfills (most common): 50ml or 100ml bottles of 0mg liquid. Designed for adding nic shots but can be used as-is.
• 10ml bottles: Some manufacturers make 0mg 10ml bottles for pod kit users. Less common than nicotine 10ml.
• 0mg specific lines: Some brands have ranges specifically aimed at the 0mg market. Often emphasising flavour complexity.
• Refillable pods with 0mg liquid: Any pod can use 0mg liquid. The pod hardware does not change.
• 0mg disposable replacements: Most prefilled pod kits offer 0mg pod options. Rare but available.
• DIY base liquid: 100ml or 250ml bottles of unflavoured 0mg VG/PG base for mixing your own e-liquid. Most VG-only base liquids are 0mg.

0mg vape questions

The bottom line