Not only is vaping becoming increasingly popular across the globe, but it’s contributing to a decline in the number of active smokers. To illustrate this, the number of vapers rose from 7 million in 2011 to 35 million just five years later, while research group Euromonitor estimates that the number of adults who vape will reach 55 million by 2021.
At the same time, the number of smokers has continued to decline falling from 1.14 billion to 1.1 billion since the turn of the century. In the domestic market, there’s no doubt that firms like VIP Premium Vaping and E-Liquids have played a key in driving this trend, with a robust regulatory framework has also proved beneficial.
While vaping is legal and practiced widely in the UK, however, the same cannot be said for other jurisdictions in the world. With this in mind, here’s brief guide for travelling vapers and what they can expect when visiting various locations across the globe.
Europe
If you’re travelling inside the EU, the chances are that you’ll benefit from relatively vape-friendly regulations that enable you to indulge this popular pastime.
The regulatory framework in this jurisdiction is governed by the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD2), which provides clear guidelines for the quality of products. Back in November, there was a further exchange of vaping regulations within the UK, as MEPs looked to maintain a framework that drives innovation while also protecting the interests on single market customers.
Still, the attitude to vaping varies from one member state to another, and as while the EU provides a basic framework each country is free to impose its own laws.
So, you’ll need to review the guidelines associated with your chosen destination when heading to the EU to ensure that you can comply fully.
Asia
As you may expect, regulators and lawmakers in Asia take an entirely different approach to vaping.
In fact, this practice is probibited in some jurisdictions, where those who are found vaping or in possession of certain materials could face considerable sanctions.
This is particularly true in Thailand, where individuals caught vaping could face a prison sentence of between five and 10 years. In Singapore, individuals found guilty of vaping could face a fine of up to $5,000, so anyone visiting here is advised to leave their vape kit at home.
The landscape in India is a little more confusing, as this nation is home to 108 million smokers and its population have fully embraced vaping in recent times. Despite this and the fact that vaping is not officially illegal in India, there have been instances of people being sentenced to prison for selling kits and cartridges to customers.
The Middle East and Other Jurisdictions Outside the EU
Elsewhere, there’s a wide range of regulatory approaches that need to be considered by travelling vapers.
This is particularly true outside of the EU, while it’s also important to note that many of these jurisdictions have little or no safety rules with regards to e-liquids.
This means that you should avoid buying e-liquids abroad in most instances, unless you have knowledge of the market and its safety standards.
You’ll also need to pack your vape kit sensibly when travelling, as you look to remove all batteries, put your vape kit in a case and limit your e-liquid carry-on to just 100ml. The failure to do this could prove highly detrimental, with many vapers travelling to Dubai having had their kits confiscated on arrival.