This guide explains what UK law says about vaping and age: who the rules apply to, what changes on 29 October 2026, how the rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the penalties for breaking them. It also explains how we check the age of every customer who buys from us.
What the law says
UK age-of-sale law is aimed at the people who sell vapes and the adults who buy them for young people. There are two main offences.
Selling to under-18s
It is an offence to sell a vaping product to anyone under 18. This applies to shops, market stalls and online retailers. Before making a sale, a retailer must be satisfied the customer is 18 or over, so expect to be asked for ID.
Buying for someone under 18 (proxy purchasing)
It is an offence for anyone aged 18 or over to buy, or try to buy, a vaping product on behalf of someone under 18. This is known as proxy purchasing. The offence is committed by the adult who buys, not the shop. A parent, older sibling or friend buying a vape for someone under 18 is breaking the law, even with the young person's money or permission.
Young people having or using a vape
The age-of-sale offences apply to sellers and to adults who buy on a young person's behalf. None of them make it an offence in itself for someone under 18 to have or use a vape. That doesn't mean there are no consequences: schools set their own rules on vaping, and anyone who sold or bought the vape for them may have committed an offence.
What counts as a vaping product?
According to the government's guidance for retailers, the age restrictions cover:
- Vaping products: vape devices such as vape pens, e-liquids, and related parts such as coils and pods.
- Nicotine products: including nicotine pouches, nicotine strips and nicotine pearls.
They don't cover general items such as batteries, chargers and leads, or licensed medical products.
What changes on 29 October 2026
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Its age-of-sale rules for vaping and nicotine products come into force on 29 October 2026. From that date:
- Nicotine-free vapes are age-restricted everywhere. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the old rules only covered vapes and e-liquids containing nicotine. Scotland already restricted both.
- Nicotine pouches and other nicotine products become 18+ across the UK for the first time.
- Proxy purchasing is extended to all vaping and nicotine products.
- Vending machines selling vapes or nicotine products are banned.
- Free samples and giveaways of vapes and nicotine products to the public are banned, along with selling them at a substantial discount to promote them.
Vaping age rules across the UK
The age limit is 18 in every part of the UK, but each nation has its own legislation.
| Nation | Law on age of sale | What changes on 29 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Section 10, Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 | Extends 18+ from nicotine vapes to all vapes and nicotine products |
| Scotland | Section 4A, Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 | Nicotine and nicotine-free vapes were already 18+; nicotine products are added |
| Northern Ireland | Article 4H, Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order 1978 | Extends 18+ from nicotine vapes to all vapes and nicotine products |
Penalties for selling to under-18s and proxy buying
From 29 October 2026, Trading Standards can deal with an offence through a fixed penalty notice or prosecution. The figures below come from the government's guidance for retailers.
| Offence | Fixed penalty notice | Maximum fine if prosecuted |
|---|---|---|
| Selling to someone under 18 | £200 (England, Wales, Scotland); £250 in Northern Ireland, subject to Assembly approval | £2,500 (England, Wales, Scotland); £5,000 (Northern Ireland) |
| Buying for someone under 18 | £200 (England, Wales, Scotland); £250 in Northern Ireland, subject to Assembly approval | £2,500 (England and Wales); £5,000 (Scotland and Northern Ireland) |
Retailers who repeatedly sell to under-18s can also be banned from selling these products, or from selling them at particular premises, for a set period.
If you think a shop is selling vapes to under-18s, you can report it to your local Trading Standards office (or your local council in Northern Ireland).
Will the new smoking age affect vaping?
No. From 1 January 2027, it becomes an offence to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, so the legal age for buying tobacco rises every year. As Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) explains, this only applies to tobacco products. The age of sale for vapes and nicotine products stays at 18.
How young people get hold of vapes
Despite the law, underage vaping hasn't gone away. The 2026 ASH youth survey found that 19% of 11 to 17 year olds in Great Britain had tried vaping and 6% currently vape. Most young people who vape were given their first vape, but 47% had bought vapes from shops, despite the age restrictions. Around one in ten said they usually get their vapes online.
The Act's new fixed penalties and restrictions on repeat offenders are designed to make those illegal shop sales easier to act on.
How we check the age of every customer
At our Manchester shop, staff can ask customers for ID in person. Online, we can't see who is buying, so every order goes through 1Account, a third-party age verification service. We don't dispatch any order until the customer has been verified as 18 or over.
Depending on the details you give, 1Account can check your age by:
- Mobile phone number: checking with your network provider that the account holder is over 18.
- Electoral roll: matching your name and address.
- ID scan: asking for a photo of your passport or driving licence.
- Age estimation: estimating your age from a selfie.
- Credit card: checking your credit card details.
Most customers are verified automatically at checkout, and it's a one-time check: once you've been verified, you won't need to repeat it. If we can't verify an order, it isn't sent. You can read more on our age verification page.
Under 18 and want to stop vaping?
If you're under 18 and vaping, stopping is worth it, and you don't have to do it alone. You can talk to your GP, your school nurse or a parent or carer. FRANK has confidential information about vapes and nicotine for young people. In Scotland, NHS inform lists where to get support.
Frequently asked questions
Can you vape at 16 in the UK?
No one under 18 can legally be sold a vape, and adults can't legally buy one for them. Having or using a vape isn't in itself an offence for a 16 year old, but whoever sold or supplied it may have broken the law.
Can I buy a vape at 16 or 17 with my parents' permission?
No. Parental permission makes no difference to the age of sale. If a parent buys a vape for someone under 18, the parent commits the proxy purchasing offence.
What happens if you're caught vaping under 18?
The law targets sellers and adults who buy on a young person's behalf rather than young people themselves. Schools set their own rules and sanctions on vaping.
Are nicotine-free vapes age-restricted?
From 29 October 2026, yes, everywhere in the UK. Before that date, nicotine-free vapes were only age-restricted in Scotland.
How old do you have to be to buy nicotine pouches or snus?
From 29 October 2026, you must be 18 to buy nicotine pouches. Snus, which contains tobacco, can't legally be sold in the UK at any age. See our guide to how to use nicotine pouches for more.
Will I be asked for ID when buying online?
Yes. UK retailers must be satisfied you are 18 or over before selling to you, whether in a shop or online. Online, that usually means an automatic check at checkout, with ID requested if the check can't confirm your age.