Ten in style vacation and journey locations for Brits have already outlawed vaping. In keeping with analysis carried out by journey firm Ski Vertigo, nations akin to Turkey, Denmark, Thailand and Australia revealed holidaymakers with a vaping or e-cigarette behavior may discover themselves in hassle.
The findings come after the UK authorities introduced plans to ban vaping and the promoting of disposable vapes, in a bid to cease youngsters and kids being enticed by the gadgets. Their proposal factors included a rise in value, restrictions on flavours, regulation for level of sale shows, and altering design and packaging.
However in relation to flocking overseas, the place are the preferred British vacation locations which have the strictest guidelines of vaping and e-cigarettes?
Turkey
Topping the record, Turkey is the preferred vacationer vacation spot that has banned vaping, with a powerful 2.7 million visits from the UK recorded final yr.
In keeping with Mister Vape , vaping itself just isn’t unlawful within the nation, however the sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids is banned. Turkey’s strict anti-vaping stance has seen a whole prohibition on the sale, promoting, and importation of e-cigarettes and associated merchandise.
India
India, with 1.8 million British vacationers in 2022, has taken a stringent strategy to vaping. In 2019, the Indian authorities introduced a whole ban on e-cigarettes, citing well being considerations, beneath the Prohibition of Digital Cigarettes Act.
The manufacturing, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and promoting associated to e-cigarettes are all prohibited. These accused of manufacturing/manufacturing/importing/exporting/ transporting/promoting/distributing/promoting/selling e-cigarettes could possibly be punished with imprisonment for a time period which can lengthen to at least one yr or with a high quality which can lengthen to Rs 1 lakh, or 100,000 Rupees (£986.35), or with each. That is for first-time offenders.
A repeat violation attracts a jail time period of as much as three years and a penalty of as much as Rs 5 lakh (£4,932.31).
United Arab Emirates
The UAE, attracting 1.3 million Brits, has had a ban in place on the sale and use of digital cigarettes since 2009. It is price noting that whereas nearly all of these visits are to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the ban is enforced all through your entire nation.
Denmark
Denmark, having hosted over a million British vacationers, regulates vaping with tight restrictions. Whereas vaping just isn’t solely banned, being allowed in public areas , there are rigorous guidelines round nicotine content material, promoting, and product gross sales.
Australia
Australia, the place simply shy of 1 million Brits travelled, adopts a state-by-state strategy to vaping. Whereas nicotine e-cigarettes are largely unlawful to promote, exceptions exist if a prescription is obtained. Vaping gadgets in Australia now should even have pharmaceutical-like packaging and should abide by new rules on the amount and focus of Nicotine, in accordance with Habit Middle.
Travellers ought to pay attention to various rules relying on the area.
Mexico
Mexico, with 850,000 visits from the UK, applied a ban on the sale, distribution, exhibition, promotion, and manufacturing of digital nicotine supply techniques in 2020. This contains all e-cigarettes and vaporisers.
Mexico has additionally enforced clear air zones throughout the nation, which suggests even for those who do discover a respected vape to make use of when you land, you have to be very cautious about the place you begin puffing.
Thailand
Thailand, with slightly below 390,000 British guests, takes a notoriously arduous stance on vaping. Since 2014, vacationers caught vaping may face fines of as much as 30,000 baht (round £700) and even serve as much as ten years in jail. This stringent coverage has been in place to curb the expansion of vaping amongst Thai youth.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, which noticed over 200,000 UK visits, has stringent insurance policies concerning vaping. The sale, manufacture, and importation of e-cigarettes and associated merchandise may end up in hefty fines and imprisonment, coming into impact again in 2022.
Underneath the Import and Export (Modification) Ordinance 2023 , no particular person might import another smoking product by the use of parcels, cargoes, and bringing in by incoming travellers. Vapers may additionally not use another smoking product in a statutory no smoking space.
Japan
Japan, with 190,000 visits from the UK, doesn’t fully ban vaping. In Japan, the sale of e-cigarettes containing nicotine has been banned since 2010 by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act , however e-cigarettes that don’t include nicotine usually are not legally regulated.
A spokesperson for Ski Vertigo mentioned: “Whereas the UK authorities is simply now contemplating a ban on disposable vapes, many nations have lengthy held strict guidelines in opposition to vaping. It is important for vapers to completely analysis the vaping legal guidelines of their vacation locations earlier than finalising their journey plans. The very last thing anybody needs is to face surprising authorized challenges whereas on trip.
“For many who have already booked journeys to nations with strict vaping rules, it is advisable to tread with warning. It isn’t nearly avoiding fines; in some locations, you possibly can even land in jail. Followers travelling to the System 1 Turkish Grand Prix or the Dubai Expo in early October, ought to notice the strict vaping rules.
“In case your vacation vacation spot is vape-friendly, all the time carry your batteries and vaping gadgets in your hand baggage. Attributable to stress distinction within the airplane’s cargo maintain, don’t retailer these things in your checked baggage.”