In the UK, the sale of vapes to anyone under 18 is illegal, but there are no direct legal consequences for underage individuals caught vaping. Instead, underage vapers may face certain measures aimed at raising awareness about the risks of vaping.
However, there are certain measures including:
While there are no direct legal penalties for minors who vape, the UK government has implemented these measures to curb underage vaping and encourage awareness of its potential dangers.
In the UK, vaping products (e-cigarettes) are regulated and can only be legally sold to individuals over the age of 18. While vaping is encouraged as a tool to help smokers quit due to its lower health risks compared to smoking, there are strict measures in place to prevent underage use. The government aims to make England smoke-free by 2030, with vaping being a key part of that strategy. In this blog, let's find out What Happens If You Are Caught Vaping Under 18 UK?
The legal age to buy vaping products in the UK is 18. This means that you must be 18 or older to purchase e-cigarettes, vape pens, or e-liquids that contain nicotine. Even though vaping is seen as a safer alternative to smoking, the law still treats it carefully, especially when it comes to young people. Some examples of vape products are Lost Mary BM6000 or IVG 2400.
No, there are no legal penalties for someone under 18 to vape. However, it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy vaping products. This is why if you are caught vaping, but didn’t buy the vape products yourself, there may not be legal consequences for you. Although the possession of vape under 18 is not illegal, the person who sold or gave you the vape could face serious penalties. For example, retailers who sell vapes to minors can be fined up to £2,500.
No, you cannot go to jail for vaping at 13 in the UK. While vaping is illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase, there is no specific law that criminalizes minors for vaping. However, if you're under 18, you may face consequences such as school disciplinary actions. The main legal issue is around buying vape products illegally or having an adult purchase them.
In the UK, you can technically vape at 16, but it’s important to note that you cannot legally buy vaping products until you are 18. While it is not illegal for a 16-year-old to vape, purchasing e-cigarettes, vape pens, or nicotine-based vape liquids is prohibited until you reach the legal age of 18.
The legal age to buy a vape in the UK is 18. This includes buying any vaping products such as e-cigarettes, vape pens, vape pods, and nicotine e-liquids.
If you are caught vaping at school, you could face consequences like detention, suspension, or even expulsion. Schools don't allow vaping because it goes against the law for people under 18 to use vaping products, and they want to discourage students from starting. The exact punishment will depend on the school's rules.
Even though vaping is considered safer than smoking, it is still risky for young people. Nicotine, the main ingredient in most vape liquids, is addictive and can affect your developing brain. It can impact your attention, memory, and learning abilities. Vaping can also cause lung problems, and the long-term effects are still not fully known. That’s why health experts strongly advise against vaping if you're under 18.
If you are over 18 and looking for something less harmful in the vape world, try out Hayati Pro Ultra with 0 nicotine.
In the UK, it's illegal for adults to buy vapes or sell vape products to someone under 18. Here are the consequences:
For businesses, selling vaping products to people under 18 can lead to serious fines. The maximum fine for selling to minors is £2,500. This is why stores like WizVape, an online vape store, are very careful to make sure that their customers are old enough to buy vaping products. WizVape has strict age verification processes to make sure no one under 18 can buy their products.
In the UK, it is also illegal for adults to buy vaping products on behalf of someone under 18. This means that even if an adult is purchasing vape products for a minor, they are breaking the law. The legal age to buy vaping products is 18, and the law is strict about preventing minors from accessing these products. If an adult is caught buying vaping products for someone underage, they can face legal consequences, including a fine of up to £90.
WizVape, as a responsible online vape store, is committed to reducing underage vaping by implementing strict age verification measures. To ensure they comply with UK regulations, WizVape requires all customers to verify their age before making a purchase. This helps prevent minors from accessing vaping products, which are legally restricted to those 18 and older. We treat all vaping products the same so the legal age to vape without nicotine is still 18.
We stock up on all legal, authentic and TPD-Compliant best disposable vape. If you are looking for more sustainable vape products, our experts recommend using vape pen or refillable vape with nic salts such as Elux Vape Juice, all available in our online store.
Additionally, WizVape actively educates its customers about the risks of vaping, especially for younger individuals, and promotes safe, legal use of its products. By enforcing these age restrictions and raising awareness about the potential harms of underage vaping, WizVape plays a crucial role in supporting efforts to curb teen vaping in the UK.
So, What Happens If You Are Caught Vaping Under 18 UK? In the UK, the rules about vaping are clear: you must be 18 or older to buy vaping products, and it’s illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase them. If you’re caught vaping, there may not be serious legal consequences, but there could be issues at school, and it’s important to understand the health risks of nicotine addiction. If you're caught vaping at school or with vape products, it’s a good idea to stop vaping and talk to someone for help quitting if you’re struggling. Read more about How Old do You Have to Be to Buy a Vape?
Vaping itself is not illegal for under 18s in the UK—minors won't be prosecuted for using vapes. However, purchasing or attempting to purchase any vaping products (devices, e-liquids, accessories) is illegal for anyone under 18, and retailers face serious penalties for selling to minors under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
Stay calm and have an open, non-judgmental conversation about why they started, discuss health risks specific to developing bodies, understand peer pressure factors, set clear expectations and boundaries, confiscate vaping products, seek support from school counselors or NHS smoking cessation services, and address underlying issues (stress, anxiety, social pressure) that may have led to vaping.
Police typically won't arrest minors for vaping—possession and use aren't criminal offenses. However, police may confiscate the device, inform parents, and investigate where the minor obtained the product. The retailer who sold to the minor faces prosecution with fines up to £2,500 and potential license revocation under age-restriction laws.
Effective strategies: have honest conversations about health risks (nicotine addiction affects brain development until age 25), avoid aggressive confrontation (increases rebellion), understand why they started (peer pressure, stress, curiosity), set clear consequences, remove access to products, seek professional support from GP or school counselor, address underlying issues, and provide healthier coping mechanisms for stress or social anxiety.
In the UK, 16-year-olds can technically vape (use is not illegal), but cannot legally purchase any vaping products—devices, e-liquids, or accessories. Adults buying vapes for minors (proxy purchasing) is also illegal. The law aims to prevent youth nicotine addiction while focusing penalties on supply rather than use.
Youth vaping concerns include: nicotine addiction affecting developing brains (development continues until age 25), potential gateway to smoking, unknown long-term health effects on young lungs, impact on concentration and memory, normalization of nicotine use, peer pressure perpetuation, and undermining smoking prevention efforts targeting youth.
Retailers selling to under 18s face: unlimited fines (typically £2,500+ per offense), prosecution under Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, potential license suspension or revocation, criminal record for business operators, Trading Standards enforcement action, and reputational damage. Test purchasing programs actively catch non-compliant retailers.
Legal age verification requires: Challenge 25 policy (ask for ID if customer appears under 25), acceptable ID (passport, driving license, PASS-accredited proof of age), staff training on age verification, refusal of sales without valid ID, and logging refused sales. Online retailers use digital age verification services and delivery age checks.
Common signs include: sweet or fruity smells on clothes/breath, increased thirst or dry mouth, unexplained USB-like devices or pods, behavioral changes (irritability, restlessness), frequent bathroom breaks, coughing or throat clearing, secretive phone use (vape-related social media), unexplained spending, and finding unfamiliar devices or packaging.
Yes, schools have legal authority to confiscate vapes from students under school discipline policies, similar to other prohibited items. Schools typically: confiscate immediately, inform parents, implement disciplinary action per school policy (detention, suspension), retain devices permanently, and may involve police if criminal activity suspected (theft, supply to other students).
Youth-specific risks include: nicotine addiction (brains more susceptible until age 25), impaired brain development affecting learning and memory, increased anxiety and mood disorders, potential respiratory issues, unknown long-term effects on developing lungs, dental problems, and increased likelihood of transitioning to cigarette smoking later.
Yes, adults purchasing vapes for under 18s (proxy purchasing) is illegal in the UK, punishable by £2,500 fine under the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015. This includes parents, siblings, friends, or strangers—anyone knowingly supplying vaping products to minors breaks the law.
Support resources include: NHS Smokefree helpline (0300 123 1044), school counselors and pastoral care teams, GP or family doctor for health concerns, Frank (drug advice) helpline, Childline for youth support, local authority youth services, online resources from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), and specialized addiction services for severe cases.
Government measures include: strengthening age-verification requirements, banning disposable vapes from June 1, 2025 (youth appeal reduction), restricting flavors and packaging targeted at children, increased penalties for retailers, public health campaigns in schools, funding research on youth vaping, and consulting on further restrictions to protect young people.
Effective communication strategies: choose calm, private moment (not during confrontation), use open questions ('What do you know about vaping?'), listen without judgment, focus on health facts (brain development, addiction) not punishment, acknowledge peer pressure challenges, discuss marketing tactics targeting youth, involve them in decision-making, and maintain trust by being supportive not authoritarian.
Report illegal sales to: Local Trading Standards office (enforcement authority), Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) anonymously, local authority environmental health department, or police non-emergency (101). Provide details: shop location, date/time of sale, description of staff, and evidence if available—helping protect young people from illegal supply.
