Where Can You Vape Around The World?

Spain has announced that it is extending its vape laws, taking a very draconian turn, and will be treating ecigs like cigarettes. This will come at the same time as the country extends its ban on where smokers can smoke, meaning that vapers run the risk of big fines. With the summer holidays approaching, we update the current state of play around the world for the treatment of vapes and vaping.

Spain’s Ministry of Health has announced that vapes are going to be treatment identically to tobacco products, meaning that vapers may find themselves unexpectedly surprised by a fine – not least because one of the new no-go zones for vaping is the main reason why many people go to Spain on holiday!

Places where vaping will lead to a fine:

• Natural spaces
• Outdoor restaurant seating areas
• Outdoor bar terraces
• Other outdoor terraces
• On or near university campuses
• Public spaces in villages, towns and cities
• On beaches

Spain will also be banning disposable single-use vapes, increasing the price of legal vapes and eliquids, and plans on restricting juice flavours.

So, with vapers heading off to other countries for holidays or business trips, how do they treat vaping overseas?

European destinations

• Albania – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Andorra – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Armenia – Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s
• Austria – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Azerbaijan – Vapes are treated as tobacco products and vaping is banned in certain public spaces
• Belarus – Vapes are not allowed on open display in shops but can be sold to and used by adults
• Belgium – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Bulgaria – T The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Croatia – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Cyprus – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Czech Republic – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Denmark – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Estonia – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Finland – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• France – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Georgia – Vaping is legal but not in public spaces or on public transport
• Germany – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Greece – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Hungary – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes can’t be used where smoking is banned and all bar tobacco flavour is banned
• Iceland – Vaping is legal for over-18s
• Ireland – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies. Vaping is allowed everywhere but places have implemented their own bans – so check
• Israel – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Italy – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies. Vaping is banned inside government buildings.
• Kazakhstan – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Kyrgyzstan – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Latvia – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned. Plus, if someone asks you to stop vaping, you must by law
• Liechtenstein – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies
• Lithuania – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Luxembourg – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned – including where children are present, in public buildings, and on public transport
• Macedonia – Vaping is allowed
• Malta – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Moldova – Vaping is legal but not where smoking is already banned
• Monaco – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Montenegro – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Netherlands – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Norway – Vaping is legal but not where smoking is already banned
• Poland – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned. Large fines are imposed on the vaper and the establishment if they violate the ban
• Portugal – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Romania – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vaping is banned on public transport
• Russia – Vapes are treated identical to tobacco and smoking
• San Marino – Vaping is legal wherever smoking is allowed
• Serbia – Vaping is legal wherever smoking is allowed
• Slovakia – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned
• Slovenia – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned – including public transport and cars containing a child
• Spain – The EU Tobacco Products Directive applies; Vapes are allowed to be sold to over-18s but can’t be used where smoking is banned – including all indoor state-owned public places, public transport, parks and beaches
• Sweden – Vaping is legal except for outdoor serving areas at cafes and restaurants, children’s playgrounds, bus shelters, train platforms, sports arenas, and entrances to public buildings
• Switzerland – Vaping is only allowed in designated smoking areas
• Tajikistan – Vaping is banned in in certain public places and cars containing a child
• Turkey – A confused country that thinks vaping is and isn’t banned. It has been reported that vapers have been fined for vaping indoors
• Turkmenistan – Vapes and vaping are banned
• Ukraine – Vaping is banned in public spaces and on public transport…but that would probably not be your primary concern at the moment
• Uzbekistan – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping

African destinations

• Algeria – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Angola – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Benin – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Botswana – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Burkina Faso – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Burundi – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Cabo Verde – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Cameroon – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Central African Republic – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Chad – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Comoros – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Congo – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Cote d’Ivoire – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Djibouti – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Egypt – Vaping and vapes are banned
• Equatorial Guinea – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Eritrea – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Ethiopia – Vaping and vapes are banned
• Gabon – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Gambia – Vaping and vapes are banned
• Ghana – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Guinea – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Guinea-Bissau – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Kenya – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Lesotho – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Liberia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Libya – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Madagascar – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Malawi – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Mali – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Mauritania – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Mauritius – Vaping and vapes are banned
• Morocco – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Mozambique – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Namibia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping, but vaping in some public spaces can be problematic
• Niger – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Nigeria – Vaping is legal
• Rwanda – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Sao Tome and Principe – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Senegal – Vaping is allowed, advertising vapes isn’t
• Seychelles – Vapes are treated as tobacco products
• Sierra Leone – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Somalia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• South Africa – Vaping is legal but laws are due to change
• South Sudan – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Swaziland – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Tanzania – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Togo – Vaping is restricted to places where smoking is allowed
• Tunisia – Vaping is legal
• Uganda – It is legal to vape but it isn’t legal to bring them with you and shops aren’t allowed to sell vapes
• Zambia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Zimbabwe – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping

Destinations in the Americas

• Antigua and Barbuda – The law doesn’t ban vaping but you can’t bring your own and shops aren’t allowed to sell you one
• Argentina – Vaping is banned in enclosed public spaces and public transport
• Bahamas – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Barbados – Vaping is legal
• Belize – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Bolivia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Brazil – Shops are banned from selling vapes and vaping is banned in public places and on public transport
• Canada – Vaping is legal but restrictions vary by state
• Chile – Vapes are classed as medical products and no products have been approved
• Colombia – Shops are banned from selling vapes and vaping is banned on public places and on public transport
• Costa Rica – Vaping is legal but banned in public places and on public transport
• Cuba – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Dominica – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Dominican Republic – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Ecuador – Vapes are allowed where smoking is accepted, and in venues attended only by adults
• El Salvador – Vapes are banned where smoking is banned
• French Guiana – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Grenada – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Guatemala – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Guyana – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Haiti – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Honduras – Vaping is legal except workplaces, indoor public places, public transport and terminals
• Jamaica – Vapes are banned from sale, places are still selling vapes
• Mexico – Vapes are banned from sale, no one is paying any attention to the law
• Nicaragua – Vapes are banned from sale, stores are still selling despite the threat of huge fines
• Panama – Vapes are banned from sale, vaping is banned in public spaces and on public transport
• Paraguay – Vaping is banned in some public places
• Peru – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Saint Lucia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Suriname – Sales are banned, importing a vape is banned, and smoking is banned in public with the threat of jail for offenders, and it is assumed that vaping will be treated the same
• Trinidad and Tobago – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• USA – The treatment of vaping varies strongly by state
• Uruguay – Vaping is legal but shops can’t sell you one
• Venezuela – Vaping is legal and you can buy everywhere despite a suspected ban

Western Pacific destinations

• Australia – You are not allowed to bring your own eliquid in and you can’t obtain nicotine containing eliquid without a prescription from an Australian doctor
• Brunei – It is illegal to buy a vape or bring one into the country
• Cambodia – It is illegal to buy a vape or bring one into the country, but people report being able to buy one and vape
• China – Vaping is legal but be wary in public areas. The country is set to implement harsh anti-vape laws
• Cook Islands – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Fiji – Vaping is legal
• Japan – Vaping is legal but not in indoor public venues
• Kiribati – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Laos – Vaping is banned where smoking is banned
• Malaysia – Vaping is technically legal
• Marshall Islands – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Micronesia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Mongolia – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Nauru – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• New Zealand – Vaping is legal
• Niue – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Palau – Vaping is legal
• Papua New Guinea – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Philippines – Vaping is legal
• Samoa – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Singapore – Vaping, the possession of a vape and importing a vape are all banned
• Solomon Islands – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• South Korea – Vaping is banned everywhere but designated smoking areas
• Taiwan – You can only vape in designated smoking areas and vapes look set to be completely banned soon
• Tonga – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Tuvalu – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Vanuatu – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Vietnam – Vaping is meant to be restricted to designated smoking areas

Destinations in South-East Asia

• Bangladesh – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Bhutan – Vapes are banned but you are allowed to bring one in for personal use
• East Timor – Vaping is restricted to smoking areas
• India – Vaping is theoretically banned
• Indonesia – Vaping was banned but nobody paid any attention and so it now isn’t
• Maldives – Vaping is banned where smoking isn’t allowed
• Myanmar (Burma) – There are no laws regarding vapes or vaping
• Nepal – Vaping is completely banned
• North Korea – Vaping is completely banned
• Sri Lanka – It is illegal to buy a vape or bring one into the country but people report being able to buy one and vape
• Thailand – Selling vapes is banned…but everywhere sells them. Vaping is not banned, lots of people do it, but vapers can be arrested, have their vape confiscated and ‘can’ be sent to prison

It is important to remember that this article has been written in May 2024, and rules in countries can change rapidly and without warning. It is essential to search online prior to your departure for any updated news.

Don’t forget to check out our comprehensive Worldwide Regulations of the Vaping Industry guide!