Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2025-11-05
In the United Kingdom, e-cigarettes are allowed and regulated under national tobacco and nicotine product laws. However, recent legislation bans the supply, offer to supply, and possession for supply of disposable or single-use e-cigarettes. Health claims promoting e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids are permitted, provided they are evidence-based and compliant with relevant regulations. Advertising of these products is allowed but strictly regulated. E-cigarettes can be legally purchased online and are commonly available in general retail outlets. Currently, there are no excise taxes levied on e-cigarette products in the UK. The United Kingdom has a comprehensive regulatory framework around e-cigarettes. Based on that, product notifications are required before market entry, and child-resistant, tamper-proof containers are mandatory. Additionally, health warnings must appear on all packaging, and sales are restricted to individuals aged 18 years and above. E-liquids should not exceed a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml, and tank sizes are limited to 2 ml or less. While there are no restrictions on flavour range, the use of e-cigarettes in public places is regulated and subject to local policies.
In terms of prevalence, an estimated 4.5 million people were reported to be current vapers as of 2022. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was estimated to be 10.7% in 2024. In 2022, 7.9% of adult women and 9.5% of adult men were reported to be current e-cigarette users. Around 2.1 million adults were daily vapers as of 2020, and the adult daily vaping prevalence was estimated to be 5.2% in 2022. This was 3.5% among females and 6.4% among males. In 2020, 14.2% of adults in the UK stated that they had ever tried e-cigarettes.
Prevalence
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 700,000 | 1A |
| 2013 | 1.3 million | 1A |
| 2014 | 2.1 million | 1A |
| 2015 | 2.6 million | 1A |
| 2016 | 2.8 million | 1A |
| 2017 | 2.9 million | 1A |
| 2018 | 3.2 million | 1A |
| 2019 | 3.6 million | 1A |
| 2022 | 4.5 million | 1B A |
References:
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). (2019). Use of e-cigarettes (vaporisers) among adults in Great Britain. 2019 (September), 1–15.
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1.7% | 2A |
| 2013 | 2.7% | 2A |
| 2014 | 4.2% | 2A |
| 2015 | 5.4% | 2A |
| 2016 | 5.7% | 2A |
| 2017 | 6.2% | 2B |
| 2017 | 5.8% | 2A |
| 2018 | 6.2% | 2A |
| 2019 | 7.1% | 2A |
| 2020 | 6.4% | 2C |
| 2021 | 7.7% | 2D B |
| 2022 | 8.7% | 2E C |
| 2023 | 9.6% | 2F |
References:
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). (2019). Use of e-cigarettes (vaporisers) among adults in Great Britain. 2019 (September), 1–15.
- European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 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
Comments:
- Eurobarometer data provides a representative sample of ~28,000 respondents and estimates the prevalence of vaping for the EU overall, as well as per country. The survey was conducted in March 2017. Covers 28 European Union (EU) countries. Total sample N = 27901, aged 15 and over. Survey includes an estimate for United Kingdom which is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.6% | 2A |
| 2021 | 5.7% | 2B A |
| 2022 | 7.9% | 2C B |
| 2023 | 8.3% | 2D |
References:
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 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
Comments:
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.2% | 2A |
| 2021 | 9.7% | 2B A |
| 2022 | 9.5% | 2C B |
| 2023 | 11% | 2D |
References:
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 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
Comments:
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
2.1 million
3
2020
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.8% | 1A |
| 2021 | 4.9% | 1B A |
| 2022 | 5.2% | 1C A |
References:
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3% | 4A |
| 2021 | 3.5% | 4B B |
References:
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.7% | 4A |
| 2021 | 6.4% | 4B B |
References:
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 18% | 5A |
| 2020 | 14.2% | 5B |
References:
- European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
Comments:
- Eurobarometer data provides a representative sample of ~28,000 respondents and estimates the prevalence of vaping for the EU overall, as well as per country. The survey was conducted in March 2017. Covers 28 European Union (EU) countries. Total sample N = 27901, aged 15 and over. Survey includes an estimate for United Kingdom which is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
References:
- Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 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
- 1. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021 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/
- 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-gbr.pdf?sfvrsn=ae538ce2_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
- E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
Comments:
- Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
- Adults survey: Annual Population Survey, 2021; National, ages 18+
Product promotion
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | No | |
| 2024 | Yes | 1A |
References:
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes | A |
| 2023 | Yes | 2A |
References:
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Comments:
- Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
References:
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Regulation
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Allowed | |
| 2024 | Allowed | 1B A |
References:
- 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/
- 1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025. 2. UK Government. Single-use vapes banned from 1 June 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-use-vapes-banned-from-1-june-2025. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
- The law bans the supply, offer to supply, and possession for supply of disposable or single-use e-cigarettes.
Yes
2
Allowed
2023
Yes
2
Yes
2
References:
- 1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025. 2. UK Government. Single-use vapes banned from 1 June 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-use-vapes-banned-from-1-june-2025. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
- 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/
Comments:
- The law bans the supply, offer to supply, and possession for supply of disposable or single-use e-cigarettes.
Availability
Yes
1
A
2024
Yes
2
2024
Yes
2
2024
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
General retail
2
2024
Yes
1
A
2024
References:
- 1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025. 2. UK Government. Single-use vapes banned from 1 June 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-use-vapes-banned-from-1-june-2025. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
- The law bans the supply, offer to supply, and possession for supply of disposable or single-use e-cigarettes.
Regulations and restrictions
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | YES | |
| 2023 | YES | 1A |
References:
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | YES | |
| 2023 | YES | 1A |
References:
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | YES | |
| 2024 | YES | 2A A |
References:
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
- Text health warnings are required.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Yes: 18 years | |
| 2021 | Yes: 18 years | 3A |
References:
- Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=81. Accessed: 6 August 2025.
NO
2
2024
Equal or less than 20mg/ml
4
2024
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | NO | |
| 2025 | YES |
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | YES | |
| 2024 | 2 ml or less | 1A |
References:
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
References:
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
- Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=81. Accessed: 6 August 2025.
- 1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025. 2. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction England. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/england/e-cigarettes?row=1228268. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Comments:
- Text health warnings are required.
Tax
0.00
1
A
2024
References:
- Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
- No excise taxes are levied on this product.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team.
However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice.
We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product
categories can change at short notice and with little publicity.
If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region,
you should verify the information independently.
If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details
and any references and we will rectify any errors.