In Switzerland, e-cigarettes are legal and regulated as tobacco products. However, online sales of e-cigarettes are not permitted, and health claims promoting their use are prohibited. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes in Switzerland are not subject to an excise tax. Switzerland has a clear regulatory framework for e-cigarette products. Based on that, child-resistant and tamper-proof packaging is required, and health warnings must be displayed on all e-cigarette packaging. While there are no restrictions on flavour range, the maximum nicotine concentration is capped at 20 mg/ml, and tank sizes are limited to 2 ml or less. The use of e-cigarettes in public places is also legally restricted.
Switzerland had approximately 221,000 current vapers as of 2022. The adult current e-cigarette prevalence was reported to be 3%. Among adults, 2.6% of females and 3.4% of males were reported to be current e-cigarettes users. The adult daily vaping prevalence was estimated to be 1.7% overall, with a daily prevalence of 1.7% among females and 1.8% among males.
Prevalence
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 221,061 | 1A A |
| 2023 | 459,621 | 1B |
| 2024 | 462,375 | 1B |
- 1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-che.pdf?sfvrsn=83d51905_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- 1. Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Adults survey: Enquête Santé et Lifestyle, 2022; National, ages 15+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3% | 2A A |
| 2023 | 6.2% | 2B |
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-che.pdf?sfvrsn=83d51905_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Adults survey: Enquête Santé et Lifestyle, 2022; National, ages 15+
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2.6% | 2A A |
| 2023 | 6.3% | 2B |
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-che.pdf?sfvrsn=83d51905_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Adults survey: Enquête Santé et Lifestyle, 2022; National, ages 15+
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3.4% | 2A A |
| 2023 | 6.1% | 2B |
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-che.pdf?sfvrsn=83d51905_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Adults survey: Enquête Santé et Lifestyle, 2022; National, ages 15+
- 1. Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Enquête Santé et Lifestyle 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-che.pdf?sfvrsn=83d51905_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Adults survey: Enquête Santé et Lifestyle, 2022; National, ages 15+
Product promotion
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
Regulation
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | no specific law | |
| 2018 | Allowed | 1B |
| 2024 | Allowed | 1C |
- Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
Availability
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | |
| 2018 | No | 2A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | |
| 2018 | No | 2A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | |
| 2018 | Yes | 2A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | |
| 2018 | Yes | 2A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | |
| 2018 | Yes | 2A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
Regulations and restrictions
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | YES | 2A |
| 2024 | YES | 2B A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Text health warnings.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Yes | 2A |
| 2024 | Equal or less than 20mg/ml | 2B |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | YES | |
| 2018 | YES | 1A |
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Switzerland | Global Tobacco Control. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Text health warnings.
Tax
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- No excise taxes are levied on this product.