How UK vape laws compare to other countries

The four main regulatory approaches

Countries broadly fall into one of four categories when it comes to vaping. Where you sit on this spectrum has a huge effect on what you can buy and how much it costs.

UK vs European Union

The UK and EU rules are very similar in practice. Both use the same core limits inherited from the original Tobacco Products Directive. After Brexit, the UK kept these rules under the name TRPR.

The UK is broadly aligned with the EU but moving towards stricter rules in some areas (disposable ban first, vape duty next year) and more permissive in others (no flavour restrictions yet).

UK vs United States

The US system is dramatically different. Federal regulation by the FDA sets some baseline rules, but individual states have huge variation in flavour bans, taxes and where you can vape.

A UK vaper visiting the US can find e-liquid stronger than anything legal at home (50mg/ml nic salts are common). A US vaper visiting the UK finds bottles smaller and strengths lower than they are used to.

UK vs Australia

Australia takes the strictest approach of any major Western country. Nicotine vapes are prescription-only medicines, sold through pharmacies, regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Recreational vaping without a prescription is effectively illegal.

Importing nicotine vapes without a prescription can result in fines up to AU$2.2 million and 7 years in prison. Even tourists travelling with their own vape can technically face penalties without the right paperwork.

The Australian model in detail:

• Nicotine vapes require a valid Australian prescription, regardless of strength.
• Sale only through pharmacies that have registered with the TGA.
• Flavours restricted to a small approved list. No sweet, fruit or dessert flavours.
• Packaging must be plain pharmaceutical-style. No bright colours or branding.
• Importing without a prescription is illegal at the border, not just in shops.
• Nicotine-free vapes are also restricted if marketed as quitting aids.
• Penalties include fines up to AU$2.2 million and prison time for serious breaches.

The contrast with the UK is striking. In the UK you can buy a vape kit and e-liquid from any newsagent. In Australia you need a doctor's appointment, a prescription and a trip to the chemist.

UK vs Canada and New Zealand

Both Canada and New Zealand have approaches similar to the UK's harm reduction model.

UK vs Asia and Middle East

The contrast here is the biggest of any region. Many Asian countries ban vaping completely with severe penalties for possession.

• Thailand: Total ban. Possession can result in prison time and fines up to 800,000 baht. Police actively check tourists in popular areas.
• Singapore: Total ban with strict enforcement. Customs uses X-ray machines to detect vapes. Possession fine up to S$2,000.
• India: Total ban since 2019. Sale, possession and import all illegal.
• Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia: Various levels of prohibition or strict restriction.
• Japan: Nicotine e-liquids banned (classed as medicines), but heated tobacco products like IQOS are legal and widely used. Nicotine-free vape devices are legal.
• Hong Kong: Sale banned, possession technically legal but discouraged.
• UAE: Legalised vaping in 2019 under strict regulation. Sales through approved retailers only.
• Qatar, Iran, Oman: Total bans.
• Saudi Arabia: Heavily restricted, growing enforcement.

UK vapers travelling to these regions need to research the specific destination very carefully. Even having a vape in your luggage can be a criminal offence in some places. See our travel guides silo for country-specific advice.

The countries where vaping is completely banned

The Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control counted 46 countries with e-cigarette sales bans as of May 2025, and several more have joined since. The full prohibition list includes:

• Asia: India, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, North Korea, Brunei, Turkmenistan
• Middle East: Iran, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon (use legal, sale illegal)
• Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Panama, Suriname
• Other: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and several African nations

In some of these countries the laws have only recently been introduced and enforcement varies. In others (Thailand, Singapore) enforcement is rigorous and the penalties are severe.

How the UK's position has changed

From 2016 to early 2025, the UK was viewed internationally as one of the most pro-vaping countries in the world. The NHS endorsement, the relatively permissive regulation, and the harm reduction philosophy made the UK stand out.

The disposable ban in June 2025 and the vape duty starting October 2026 represent a tightening of the UK's approach, but not a fundamental shift. The harm reduction philosophy is still in place. The NHS still recommends vaping for smokers. The full range of refillable products is still legal.

Compared internationally, the UK still sits clearly in the harm reduction camp, alongside New Zealand, Sweden and Canada. It is much more permissive than Australia, somewhat more regulated than some US states, and nowhere near the prohibition model of Asia or the Middle East.

The bottom line