Tobacco Control

Young persons tobacco control work

Young Persons Specialist Tobacco Control Officers support secondary schools and other education settings by offering a range of resources for students.

These include engaging workshops and short courses designed to help young people make informed choices about tobacco and vaping.

The Hidden Dangers of Nicotine Products

This short video has been created for parents and teachers, and explains how young people use, access, and hide nicotine products, and the health risks involved.

Likely signs a vape is legal in the UK (18+)

A legal UK vape should:

  • clearly show “18+” on the packaging
  • contain no more than 20mg/ml (2%) nicotine
  • have a maximum 2ml pod/tank size
  • display the health warning: “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance”
  • be TPD/TRPR compliant (often marked UKCA)
  • list a UK or EU manufacturer/importer
  • not be designed to resemble food, drink or cosmetics.
  • be sold by a legitimate retailer (not social media or informal sellers)

If one or more of these are missing, the vape is likely illegal.

Likely signs a vape is illegal in the UK

A vape is likely illegal if:

  • it is a disposable (single-use) vape – disposable vapes have been banned from sale since June 2025
  • refillable or replaceable pods are larger than 2ml
  • any tank exceeds 2ml
  • the nicotine warning is missing or incorrectly worded
  • there is no age warning, or it states 21+ instead of 18+
  • it appears to be a cannabis vape, often identified by:
    - Terms like THC, sativa, live resin, Delta-8 or Delta-9
    - Cannabis leaf symbols
    - Very small tanks (often around 1ml)

If one or more of these apply, the vape is likely illegal.

Reputable UK sources for further guidance

For accurate, up-to-date advice, please visit the sites below:

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