Can You Vape Inside?

Can you vape inside?

Vaping indoors is not illegal in the UK, though in practice you will rarely find a public place that allows it. The indoor smoking ban covers tobacco only, so it does not apply to vaping, yet most venues, workplaces and transport operators set their own no-vaping rules, which means indoor vaping is usually off the table. In the end the venue decides this, not the law.

It helps to separate the legal position from the everyday reality, since they point in different directions. The law is relaxed, while individual policies are mostly strict. This page explains the law, where indoor vaping is and is not allowed and what new rules are on the way.

Let us look at the law, where it is allowed and what is changing.

The mismatch between the law and everyday practice causes a lot of confusion. People hear that indoor vaping is legal and assume it is fine anywhere, when the reality is that the venue you are standing in almost always has the final say.

What the law says

The legal position here is simpler than most people think. The Health Act 2006 smoking ban applies to burning tobacco, not to vaping, so e-cigarettes sit outside it and there is no nationwide law against vaping indoors, which is why the rules come down to each venue instead.

• Not covered: the indoor smoking ban does not include vaping.
• No blanket ban: there is no UK-wide law against vaping indoors.
• Venue policy rules: businesses and operators set their own restrictions.
• Policy, not crime: breaking a venue rule is not a criminal offence.

That freedom is rather narrower than it first sounds. Because property owners, employers and transport operators can all set their own rules, the great majority choose to ban indoor vaping, so being allowed by law does not mean you are allowed in a given place.

The result is that the legal freedom is mostly theoretical in public. It matters most at home, where there is no operator or employer setting a policy, then far less out and about, where someone else's rules nearly always apply.

Where it is and is not allowed

In practice, most indoor public spaces will say no. Pubs, restaurants, shops, cinemas, most workplaces and all public transport generally prohibit indoor vaping, while your own home is the main place you can vape freely, with rented homes possibly limited by your tenancy.

Workplaces can ban vaping just as they ban smoking, with most doing so, often pointing staff to an outdoor area. Trains, buses, the Underground and the trams all prohibit it on board and usually in the stations too. Shops, cafes and family venues almost always say no inside, partly to keep vapour away from others and from children. At home you can generally vape as you like, though if you rent it is worth checking your tenancy carefully, since some landlords restrict it to protect the property. The safe rule just about everywhere else is to assume the answer is no and check.

This sounds restrictive, though it is rarely a problem once you are used to it. Stepping outside to a permitted area is usually quick and easy, plus keeping a discreet pod device makes it simple to vape where you are allowed without drawing attention.

What is changing

The rules are now tightening in some specific places. The Tobacco and Vapes Act creates a framework for new vape-free zones near schools, hospitals and children's playgrounds, with the detail to follow through later legislation and public consultation, so some outdoor areas may join the list over time.

This does not make vaping illegal in public generally, while indoors it remains a matter of venue policy as before. What it does is introduce the first statutory vape-free places, focused on areas where children and patients are likely to be present. Nothing changes overnight, since each new zone needs consultation first, though it is sensible to keep an eye on local signage. For now, the practical approach is unchanged, which is to vape outdoors in permitted areas, follow any signs and ask if you are unsure.

• New zones coming: vape-free areas near schools, hospitals and playgrounds.
• Not a general ban: vaping stays legal for adults in most places.
• Indoors unchanged: venue policy still decides inside.
• Check signage: watch for new local rules as they arrive.

If you want to dig deeper, see our explainer on whether you can vape in pubs. It pairs well with our guide on whether you can vape in hotel rooms and our look at whether you can vape on a train.

For the full set of guides, the travel vaping hub brings everything together in one place.

Frequently asked questions