Vaping etiquette in the UK: where you can vape, and where you should not

The smoke-free laws introduced across the UK in the mid-2000s cover smoking tobacco in enclosed public places and workplaces. They do not cover vaping. That means there is no blanket legal ban on vaping indoors; instead, each venue, employer and transport operator decides for itself.

In practice, most choose to ban it, and their rules apply on their premises. So the honest answer to whether you can vape somewhere is almost always to check for a sign, a policy or simply ask. The table sets out the common situations and what is expected, with the legal position separated from good manners.

Vaping indoors is where most awkward moments happen. Someone pulls out a vape in a café, nobody is sure whether it is allowed, and the atmosphere goes a bit frosty. All of that is avoidable with a five-second check.

Look for a sign first: many venues put a no-vaping symbol next to the no-smoking one. If there is no sign, ask a member of staff. Most places that ban smoking ask vapers to use the same outside area, and many offices have a vaping policy written into the staff handbook. Never assume a lack of a sign means yes. The flow below is the whole decision.

Trains and planes have the firmest rules. Most UK train operators ban vaping on trains and at stations, and on planes it is not allowed at all. Airlines also require vapes and spare batteries to go in your hand luggage, not your checked bag, because lithium batteries in the hold are a fire risk.

Carry spare 18650 batteries in a proper battery case, never loose in a pocket with keys or coins, which can short the terminals. E-liquid bottles follow your airport's liquids rules. Run through this checklist before a flight and check your airline's own rules, as some vary.

Even where vaping is allowed, a giant cloud blown across a bus stop does not make friends. Mouth-to-lung pod kits produce small, discreet puffs that most people barely notice, while sub-ohm setups can fill a room. If you vape both, save the big clouds for home.

A few habits go a long way: exhale away from people, keep puffs small in shared spaces, and step aside rather than vaping in a doorway or queue. If you are not sure what kind of vapour your kit makes, our MTL vs DTL guide explains why some devices are far more discreet than others.

There is plenty of confusion about where vaping is allowed. Some people assume vaping is covered by the smoking ban, others think the opposite means they can vape anywhere. Neither is right, and both lead to awkward conversations.

Flip the cards to get the facts straight. If you ever have a question about one of our products and travelling, our help centre is the place to ask. For everything else, the safest rule is the simplest: when you are not sure, ask first. Nobody has ever been thrown out of a pub for asking politely.

One scenario to test the main rule. You have just sat down in a café with no signs about vaping either way, and you fancy a puff with your coffee. What is the best thing to do?

Pick your answer and read the reason. It is the same principle that applies in pubs, at work and at friends' houses, so once it is second nature you will rarely have an awkward moment. Courtesy costs nothing, and the vaping community gets judged on the behaviour of the few who skip it.