Is It Legal to Vape at 16

Is It Legal to Vape at 16 in the UK?

No, it is not legal to vape at 16 in the UK. Under current UK law, you must be 18 or older to purchase, use, or be sold any nicotine-containing vape products—including e-liquids and disposable vapes. This law is part of the wider effort to prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and to limit early exposure to substances that can impact health and brain development.

Shops, online retailers, and even delivery services are legally required to check a customer’s age when selling vape products. Anyone caught selling to under-18s can face heavy fines or lose their license to trade.

Why the Law Exists

The legal age restriction mirrors similar laws around tobacco, alcohol, and other age-regulated substances. Vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, but it still carries health risks—especially for younger users whose bodies and brains are still developing. Nicotine can affect memory, focus, and impulse control in teens, and there’s growing concern about how regular vaping might impact long-term respiratory health.

By setting the legal age at 18, the UK government aims to create a barrier between vape products and school-age teens, particularly as the popularity of disposable vapes has surged in recent years.

Can a 16-Year-Old Be Penalised for Vaping?

While the main legal responsibility falls on retailers and suppliers, 16-year-olds can still face consequences if they are caught vaping. In many areas, police or school officials may confiscate vape devices and issue a warning. Repeat incidents can lead to involvement from local authorities, youth support services, or even fines in more serious cases.

Although it’s not typically a criminal offence to be caught using a vape underage, it can be treated as a disciplinary or safeguarding issue, especially in school environments or public places.

Buying Vapes Online or From Others

Some under-18s attempt to buy vapes online or through older friends. However, online sellers must still follow strict age-verification procedures under UK law. Any company that sells a vape to a minor, whether online or in person, is breaking the law. Many platforms use digital ID checks, and delivery drivers may ask for proof of age when handing over an order.

Anyone who buys a vape for someone underage is also committing an offence. Just like buying alcohol or cigarettes for someone under 18, supplying vapes to a minor is illegal and can result in prosecution.

What About Vapes Without Nicotine?

Even nicotine-free vapes fall under the same age restrictions in the UK. Although they don’t contain nicotine, they are still classified as regulated products under the same laws that govern e-cigarettes. This means you must still be 18 or over to buy, sell, or use them legally. The government has taken this position because the act of vaping—regardless of nicotine content—can normalise the habit, making it more likely for young users to transition to nicotine products later.

Retailers who sell zero-nicotine vapes to minors can still be fined or prosecuted, just as they would be for selling standard e-cigarettes.

How Schools and Local Councils Handle Underage Vaping

Schools across the UK are treating vaping as a serious disciplinary issue, particularly given the rise of discreet disposable devices. Many schools now include vaping in their behaviour policies, and being caught can result in confiscation, detention, suspension, or even permanent exclusion in extreme cases.

Some local councils have also started test purchase operations, where undercover minors attempt to buy vapes from local shops. Businesses caught selling to underage customers may be fined or banned from selling tobacco and vape products altogether.

Can You Get a Criminal Record for Vaping Underage?

In most cases, underage users are not criminalised. Enforcement focuses on retailers, suppliers, and adults who provide vapes to minors. However, if underage vaping leads to anti-social behaviour, refusal to comply with school policies, or intervention by the police, it may be recorded as part of a young person’s behavioural history, especially if it’s part of a wider pattern of rule-breaking.

While this wouldn’t typically result in a formal criminal record, repeated issues could lead to referrals to youth offending teams or safeguarding authorities.

The Role of Education and Health Campaigns

Public health bodies, such as the NHS and local authorities, are increasingly focused on prevention and education. Programmes aimed at teens now highlight the risks of addiction, the presence of harmful chemicals in unregulated products, and the long-term health effects of starting nicotine use at a young age.

These campaigns are designed not only to discourage vaping before 18, but also to inform young people of the difference between harm reduction for adult smokers and recreational use among youth, which carries far greater risks and fewer justifications.

Final Word

It is not legal to vape at 16 in the UK. The minimum age is 18, and the law is strictly enforced to protect young people from nicotine addiction and long-term health risks. Whether it’s buying a vape in a shop, online, or through a third party, underage use is taken seriously—and both the user and the seller can face consequences. If you’re under 18 and thinking about vaping, the best course of action is to wait, get the facts, and speak to a health professional about safer choices.