Vaping is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with around 3 million people in the country now having switched to vaping. Compared to other countries around the world, life for vapers in the UK is actually quite easy.
Although there are still restrictions on where they are available, recent signs have shown that UK health experts are starting to encourage the use of e-cigarettes to quit smoking and I can easily choose the right product on sales websites or in stores.
To give everyone some more information, I will recount some of my experiences in the UK as a vaper.
Buy electronic cigarettes
I found it easy to buy e-cigarettes in the UK. There are plenty of high street shops for people who want to try out the device themselves or discuss it with the staff. There are also a number of e-cigarette websites that offer a home delivery service. Personally, I prefer to buy online, because of the range and ease of choice.
No matter what type of e-liquid you prefer, you can be sure that you have a wide selection to choose from. I love the dessert flavors, they have so many varieties that I haven’t tried them all yet. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get larger bottles or high nicotine levels these days due to new regulations.
With this law, most stores can only sell RTAs under 2ml and e-liquids can only be bought in 10ml bottles, which is a bit of a pain for someone like me who is used to big bottles. Additionally, you can no longer buy e-liquids with nicotine concentrations higher than 20mg, and stimulants like taurine and caffeine are also banned.
Where can you vape?
While vaping isn’t allowed everywhere, I’ve found that I can still vape in most areas, including some indoor areas. The UK prides itself on being a vape-friendly country, and there are virtually no restrictions on indoor vaping unless the business owner has made a notice or clearly posted a notice. Parks and city centres allow outdoor vaping, with some areas being closed off.
Public transport, stadiums and some places do not allow vaping. Although some restaurants and bars do allow vaping, there are still many restaurants and fast food places that do not allow vaping such as KFC Starbuck and Wetherspoons. Whenever I go to these places, I can only vape in the smoking area.
I’ve often found that private shops are more relaxed about vaping than public businesses, and from my research most shops in the UK allow vaping. Of course you can’t vape at airports, but you can take your own device on board. However, thanks to some changes last year, some airports now have vaping areas.
Attitude towards vaping
Although there are still some people with negative attitudes, thanks to the recognition of health benefits of vaping by medical experts, people are starting to be more lenient with this product.
Vaping was also included in the latest annual Stoptober campaign as a smoking cessation product, a sign that vaping is being viewed in a more positive light. A YouGov survey found that around 40% of respondents said vaping was safer than smoking, suggesting that people in the country are becoming more open-minded about vaping.
I used to get criticized for vaping in public, but that doesn't happen much these days. While vapers may get a few suspicious looks when they pull out their vape in public, they rarely get negative comments or unwanted attention.
Overall, I find life as a vaper in the UK to be relatively easy. With a market capitalisation of around £1 billion, it’s no surprise that the UK government is trying to educate its citizens about vaping and ensure that current laws are in place. I hope that in the future, vapers in the UK and around the world will be more free and encouraged so that I can vape in more places without having to share the same space with smokers.
