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Which electronic cigarettes are still legal in the UK?

London, UK. 1  June 2025.  A vape shop in Wimbledon town centre offering a clearance sale  as the UK government ban for single-use disposable vapes come into force  on 1 June. Credit Amer Ghazzal/Alamy Live News
Vapes were being sold off en masse by retailers ahead of the ban. Picture: Alamy

By William Mata

Single use vapes have now been banned across the UK as part of a government rule to reduce litter and stop young people developing nicotine addictions.

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As of Sunday, retailers have been banned from selling the e-cigarettes which have started to dominate corner shop fronts since going on sale as a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco.

Amid reports of users stockpiling vapes and telling LBC the ban “doesn’t change anything” the government has nonetheless pressed ahead.

Labour introduced the change for environmental reasons, with the plastic devices often seen strewn around, but also to curb rising rates of young vapers.

A teacher has previously said that vaping has become an uncontrollable epidemic in schools with kids as young as 10 inhaling high levels of nicotine after being lured by sweet flavours and attractive packaging.

E-cigarettes are still on sale but are now a greater investment and need to be topped up and recharged with the aim of helping smokers quit, rather than enticing non smokers to start.

Rules around where you can vape, or smoke, have not changed, but here is the latest on what kind of vape you are still allowed to buy and use.

Read also: Disposable vape ban comes into force - but will it be enough to cut 'avalanche' of litter?

Next to the historical buildings in Japan. A Japanese woman with long hair in her thirties is looking at the city by smoking electronic cigarettes.
Reusable cigarettes are still on sale. Picture: Alamy

Which electronic cigarettes are still legal in the UK?

Banned are single-use vapes which cannot be recharged or are refillable - leaving the only options left as what the government considers to be reusable vapes.

According to the government guidance, to be reuseable a vape must have a:

  • Rechargeable battery,
  • Refillable container that holds the vaping e-liquid (such as a chamber, capsule, cartridge, pod or tank),
  • Removable and replaceable coil (if the vape contains a coil),
  • Refill requirements for reusable vapes

Read also: The impending vaping ban is a vital step to protect a generation from erectile dysfunction

Here are some other FAQs from around the internet.

How many calories are in a vape?

One session of vaping is unlikely to add to your daily calorie intake. According to Edge, there is a negligible number of calories per vape and the bigger health concern is surely nicotine.

Austin, Tx, USA. 28th May, 2025.
THC infused products on display in the US. Picture: Alamy

Are gummies legal in the UK?

No. The buying and selling of cannabis edibles is illegal in the UK, states the police.

Gummies and bites can be seen to be advertised widely but are considered to be a class B drug with psychotic episodes, paranoia and panic attacks potential side effects.