Featured Image Credit: boonchai wedmakawand via Getty
While we all know smoking is bad for you, more studies come out by the day that confirm vaping can be extremely harmful to your health.
Even though many consider vaping to be ‘better’ for you than smoking, there are concerns about what it’s doing to our bodies, and especially, our lungs.
Said to have shocking health effects on your body in just seconds after you inhale, vaping is also thought to have ‘devastating’ consequences for us.
Just like smoking has been banned in the workplaces of at least 28 US states, it’s also outlawed in most government buildings, hospitals, schools, and restaurants.
Advert
There are still some places in the world that have weaker smoking bans in place, with the likes of Bulgaria and Greece being known for their more lax rules.
Elsewhere, vaping is being outlawed in a growing number of places, with The Mirror, reporting on how more and more holiday hotspots are enacting similar bans to the ones currently imposed on smoking.
Experts at Vape Ease UK have especially warned Brits traveling abroad to check before they whip out their Cherry Ice Breeze vapes and start puffing away at their favorite taverna.
With over 4.4 million UK tourists visiting Turkey in 2025, they might want to know that vaping is only allowed in certain smoking zones. They’re told they can only bring one device, spare pods or refill bottles that are 30ml or less, and up to 10 disposable vapes per person. It’s said that e-cigarettes and e-liquids are classed as tobacco products, meaning vapers have to be over the age of 19.
India’s Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) has banned vaping since 2019, with those who break the law facing a year in prison and a $1,300 fine. This climbs to five years and $6,700 for every subsequent offense.
Denmark reiterates that while vaping is legal, you have to be over the age of 18 to purchase and use vapes. Flavored liquids have been banned since April 2021, and you can’t vape in areas including public transport, schools, and childcare facilities. Indoor spaces like bars and restaurants will have their own policies, so it’s important to check.
Even though vaping is legal in the UAE, you have to abide by the standards that are set by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). Again, the law is 18, and you can only vape in certain areas, while there’s a minimum prison sentence of one year and up to $270,000 in fines.
Vaping products can only be sold from pharmacies in Australia as of July 2024, aimed at those who are trying to quit smoking or manage their nicotine intake.
Travelers entering Australia can only bring a maximum of two vapes for themselves, as well as 20 vape accessories and 200ml of liquid.
Mexico has a general ban on vaping, with it prohibited in indoor spaces like bars, restaurants, shops, and workplaces. Tourists are told to pack vapes in their checked luggage, carry a small amount of e-liquid, and answer any questions about a vape’s intended use if asked by customs officials.
Things get especially strict in Thailand, where e-cigarettes have been illegal since 2014. It’s here that you can face a $940 fine and up to 10 years behind bars. Visitors are told not to bring any vapes or anything associated with them, also warned to be aware of the ban because previous tourists have been arrested.
Hong Kong has banned the importing, manufacturing, and sale of vapes since 2022, but it’s not illegal to use them. That’s expected to change in the middle of 2026, and breaking these laws can carry massive fines of up to $2,700.
It’s equally regulated in Japan, and although nicotine e-liquids are considered medicinal products that travelers can bring into the country, that only goes up to 120ml of e-liquid. Vaping in a public space is strictly prohibited unless you’re in a designated smoking zone, whereas penalties include fines and imprisonment.
Finally, Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy extends to importing, selling, or using e-cigarettes as illegal. If customs officials find you with a vape, there are legal ramifications and up to $3,100 in fines.
Warning visitors to check ahead if they’re known to vape, a spokesperson from Vape Ease warned that “the last thing anyone wants is to be detained or fined on holiday. In places like Thailand and Hong Kong, the laws are shockingly strict. When in doubt - leave your vape behind."
