Vape users and shoppers across the UK are being urged to check their devices as strict new regulations come into force on October 29. From that date, selling any vaping or nicotine product to anyone under the age of 18—including zero-nicotine devices and nicotine pouches—will carry an immediate £200 fixed penalty fine.
New proposals for vape shops
The crackdown comes alongside broader government proposals announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to require planning permission for vape shops and double maximum closure orders for offending premises to 12 months. With non-compliant devices still being seized across the country, UK online vape store Ecigone have outlined five essential checks consumers can make to ensure a device is legal.
Five checks to spot an illegal vape
- It cannot be recharged or refilled: Single-use disposable vapes have been banned from sale since June 1, 2025. A legal vape must have a rechargeable battery, a refillable tank or replaceable pod, and replaceable coils.
- The tank capacity exceeds 2ml: The law restricts nicotine vape tanks and pods to a maximum of 2ml of liquid. Standalone bottles of nicotine e-liquid cannot exceed 10ml.
- Nicotine strength is above 20mg/ml: The legal maximum nicotine concentration in the UK is 20mg per ml, and this must be explicitly printed on the packaging.
- Incorrect health warnings on the packet: UK packaging must display the exact warning: "This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance". Packs using American terminology, such as referring to nicotine as a "chemical", indicate an illegal import.
- Not listed on the official regulator database: All legal nicotine vapes must be published on the official Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) list before being offered for sale.
Tax stamps and reporting
Shoppers are advised that advertised "puff counts" are not a reliable measure of legality. In addition, new yellow or red tax duty stamps began appearing on vape packaging on October 1, though shops are permitted to clear older unstamped stock until March 31, 2027.
Members of the public who suspect a retailer of selling non-compliant products or selling to minors can report them to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.
