United Kingdom:
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Data sourced: 2023.   Page updated: 2024-02-29

The UK abides by the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014), despite having left the EU. E-cigarettes are regulated under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 no. 507). This covers all of the UK, however the devolved nations may choose to apply greater restrictions. Manufacturers must provide detailed information regarding all new e-cigarette products to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Advertising is allowed on billboards and at point of sale but not on TV and radio. Legally, there are no restrictions on where you can vape, but companies, public transport and public buildings implement their own restrictions. E-cigarettes are subject to a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT); however, if they are regulated as medicines, a 5% tax is levied instead. No 'medicinal' products are currently available.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2012 700.0 thousand 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:
  1. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). (2019). Use of e-cigarettes (vaporisers) among adults in Great Britain. 2019 (September), 1–15.
  2. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
  1. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2012 1.7% 1A
2013 2.7% 1A
2014 4.2% 1A
2015 5.4% 1A
2016 5.7% 1A
2017 6.2% 1B A
2017 5.8% 1A
2018 6.2% 1A
2019 7.1% 1A
2020 6.4% 1C
2022 8.7% 1D B
References:
  1. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). (2019). Use of e-cigarettes (vaporisers) among adults in Great Britain. 2019 (September), 1–15.
  2. 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
  3. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
  4. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
  1. 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.
  2. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 5.6% 1A
2022 7.9% 1B A
References:
  1. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
  2. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
  1. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 7.2% 1A
2022 9.5% 1B A
References:
  1. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
  2. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
  1. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
2.1 million
2
2020
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 3.8% 1A
2022 5.2% 1B A
References:
  1. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
  2. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
Comments:
  1. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.
3%
3
2020
globe
4.7%
3
2020
globe
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 18% 3A A
2020 14.2% 3B
References:
  1. 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
  2. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
Comments:
  1. 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:
  1. Office for National Statistics. (2023). Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
  2. 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/
  3. E-cigarette use in Great Britain, Office for National Statistics, 2021
Comments:
  1. Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) 2022.

Product promotion

No
Yes
A
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

Allowed
1
globe
Yes
2
Allowed
2023
Yes
1
Yes
2
References:
  1. 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/
  2. 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

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
globe

Regulations and restrictions

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes: 18 years
No
Yes
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.