As we covered recently, Javed Khan has released an independent review which highlights recommendations on the government’s plan to make the UK smoke free by 2030. One of these recommendations is to make smoking illegal in more public spaces, including beer gardens and outside of bars and restaurants. There are already proposed plans to ban smoking in popular outdoor spaces in Manchester by the end of the year. With vaping often being treated the same as smoking, this raises an important question. Where can I vape?
In the UK there are no legal limitations on vaping and it’s not actually illegal to vape anywhere, but many companies have implemented their own policies to restrict vaping on their premises.
Indeed vaping in public spaces and workplaces has been under the spotlight lately. French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne sparked controversy after openly using an e-cigarette in parliament last week. Under French public health law, smoking is banned in workplaces open and closed to the public… but should vaping be treated the same? Many of the laws around smoking in public spaces have been put in place to protect people from the known dangers of tobacco smoke. Studies have shown however that secondhand vapour from e-cigarettes does not contain the same dangerous toxins. It’s important to still be considerate of other people wherever you choose to vape though.
Where can you vape in outdoor public places?
Vaping outdoors is often fine, and the most accepted place to vape. When vaping outdoors the most important thing to be mindful of is the amount of vapour that you’re producing. Not everyone appreciates smelling your vapour, especially non-vapers. So be aware of others around you. If you’re a fan of big clouds, consider using a more discreet MTL device in busy public areas, or switching to a lower wattage setting on your mod.
Vaping in pubs & beer gardens
There are no specific laws that prohibit vaping in pubs and beer gardens. Vaping indoors in allowed in some UK pubs. But, most pubs only allow smoking outside or in the beer garden. Before puffing away indoors it’s always best to check with the pub if they allow vaping inside. As stated previously, discretion is key. Make sure that you’re being respectful of others when vaping at your local.
Can you vape on trains and at train stations?
Again, there are no laws prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes inside of train stations or on trains. Most travel companies, however, have their own rules in place that ban vaping whilst indoors, on the train and on the platforms. It’s best to only vape outdoors, and check with a friendly rail employee if vaping is allowed on the platform. If you choose to vape indoors, or on the train, then you could face a hefty fine.
Vaping on planes and at airports
We recently covered tips for Vaping on Holiday. Most airports in the UK only allow you to vape in designated smoking areas. It’s best to check with the airport that you’ll be going to if they have a smoking area in departures. On-board the plane vaping is definitely not allowed. We recommend not taking your chances on this one. A passenger was recently removed from a flight for vaping on a plane headed for Ibiza.
Vaping Whilst Driving
There are no laws that prohibit vaping whilst driving. It is illegal though for the drivers view to be blocked at all. You could face a hefty fine and up to nine points on your licence if police believe your vapour was obstructing your view. The best way to avoid this is to use a Mouth to Lung (MTL) device and try to keep your closest window open.
Consideration is Key
Ultimately, consideration for others should be the priority. Whether vaping an MTL or DL device, be aware of others around you and how they might feel about being around your vapour.