vaping

The Ryanair passenger, a 21-year-old man, was removed from the flight destined for Spain after he was accused of committing an aviation offence, causing a two-hour delay

A Ryanair passenger who allegedly vaped in the plane toilet was marched off a plane by six police officers.

The 21-year-old man caused a two-hour delay to his flight after it is said he puffed on a vape in the loo before the plane was due to take off at Edinburgh Airport. Police stormed the aircraft and detained the young man on suspicion of breaching aviation laws.

Tristan James Walker, one of the passengers waiting for the plane to leave for Alicante, Spain, filmed the encounter. The 39-year-old man claims the toilet’s smoke detector was triggered, resulting in the lad’s swift ejection. It comes a passenger told of a “horrendous” 20-hour wait for a Jet2 flight home to the UK, during which families were left without baby food and nappies.

Mr Walker said the man on his flight was bundled into a police van amid their delay. Authorities have confirmed the 21-year-old suspect has been charged in relation to an aviation offence.

Speaking yesterday about the footage, shot on July 3, Mr Walker said: “A young lad in a group happened to set the alarm off for apparently vaping.

“The pilot then came out after the air stewardess explained what happened, and then the pilot stated he would be removed from the plane. The young lad waited for over six police officers to come on board.

“He was taken off, he was very calm, didn’t argue or anything, no drama. We then happened to bump into him on Benidorm’s famous strip and he told us he just got a caution and was banned from Ryanair.”

A representative for Police Scotland said: “Around 7.55 am on Thursday, July 3, 2025 were called to an aircraft at Edinburgh Airport. Officers attended, and a 21-year-old man was charged in connection with an aviation offence. A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Ryanair has been approached for comment.

Many holiday destinations have serious laws on vaping where travellers could be fined or worse jailed on holiday, warnings have been issued to travellers to ensure they know the rules before they fly

These are the holiday hotspots where vapes can land you in serious trouble. Travellers may be fined, detained or even jailed for taking or using their vapes in these countries. The UK have cracked down on their own vaping laws and these popular holiday destinations also have their own that must be taken seriously.

Experts at Vape Ease UK have warned British travellers to check laws before flying as there are many destinations where travellers could be in for a shock and serious action has been taken on vaping. From Thailand and India’s jail time to Mexico and Singapore bans, tourists have been issued serious warnings. It comes after a flight attendant urges tourists to always leave a shoe in their hotel room safe.

Turkey

More than 4.4 million Brits visited Turkey in the last year and due to its popularity it’s necessary to know the vaping laws. The country bans the sale of vapes, whilst using them is allowed only in certain areas like smoking zones. Travellers can only bring one device, spare pods or refill bottles that are no greater than 30ml in volume or up to 10 disposable vapes per person.

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You must also be 19 years old to vape in Turkey. According to globaltobaccocontrol.org, e-cigarettes and e-liquids are also classed as tobacco products so all the restrictions applied to smoking also apply to vaping.

India

Vaping in India has been banned since 2019 when they introduced the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) which banned everything to do with electronic nicotine products – production, sales, imports, exports, transport, storage and advertisement. E-cigarettes cover all types: refillable vapes, disposable vapes, heat-not-burn (HnB) products, and E-hookahs.

Travellers can face fines, imprisonment or both if caught doing any of the above. First time offenders who violate the ban could face up to one year in prison, or a fine of £1000 or both. For subsequent offences, this would increase to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of £5000.

Denmark

Whilst vaping in Denmark is legal there are certain rules and restrictions that apply: such as the age limit of 18 years old where you can purchase and use vapes. Flavoured E-liquids are banned which came into effect in April 2021, only tobacco-flavoured ones are allowed. Vaping is allowed in public places but not in all areas such as on public transport, schools and childcare facilities, and certain indoor spaces like bars and restaurants may have their own policies so you must check.

UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi)

Vaping is legal in the UAE but must meet the standards set by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). Like most countries you must be at least 18 to purchase a vape in the UAE. There are designated areas where people can vape. If these rules are not followed then penalties can include a minimum imprisonment of one year for serious offences and a fine ranging from £20 000 to £200 000.

Australia

Australia’s approach to vaping is a medical one as of July 2024, all vaping products can only be sold in a pharmacy for the purpose of assisting those that are trying to quit smoking or manage their nicotine. From March 2024, travellers entering the country can only bring a small quantity of vapes with them. The vapes must only be for the traveller’s treatment or someone they are caring for. The maximum allowed is 2 vapes in total, 20 vape accessories and 200ml of vape substance liquid.

Mexico

The sale of vapes in Mexico is generally banned, and there are certain public places where a vape is not allowed in: Indoor public spaces (bars, restaurants, shops and government buildings), workplaces and public transport. When travelling they advise, to pack it in your checked luggage, carry a small amount of e-liquid and if questioned by customs officials to answer any questions about your vape and its intended use.

Thailand

Thailand have some of the strictest rules overall as e-cigarettes are illegal since 2014. Anyone found breaking this law could be arrested and face jail time of up to 10 years or fined up to £700. Travellers are advised not to bring any e-cigarettes with them or any item associated with them. Travellers should be aware of the ban beforehand as tourists in the past have been arrested before having not known.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong state imports, manufacture, and sale of vapes have been banned since 2022 but not the use of it, however laws are set to change by early to mid 2026. Breaking these laws will result in heavy fines of up to £200 000.

Japan

Japan vaping laws are heavily regulated, nicotine e-liquids are classified as medicinal products and travellers can only bring up to 120ml of e-liquid. Non -nicotine vapes are allowed and do not face restrictions. Vaping in public spaces is strictly banned unless in a designated smoking zone. They have strict penalties in place for those who break these rules with heavy fines or imprisonment.

Singapore

Singapore have a zero-tolerance policy with vaping that includes importing, selling or using e-cigarettes as illegal. You can face fines of up to £2300, legal trouble and confiscations at customs if seen with a vape.

A spokesperson from Vape Ease UK warned travellers 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.” It is not worth the risk bringing your vape on holiday.

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Brits who are planning to vape on holiday should check the rules before they travel or they could risk landing themselves in prison for breaking the law

Brits have been warned that vaping in a popular holiday hotspot could actually land them in prison.

UK travellers heading on Thailand holidays should take note that E-cigarettes are illegal across the whole country, with hefty fines and potential prison sentences for anyone caught using them.

That includes packing them in your suitcase, as it’s illegal to bring e-cigarettes and vape pens into Thailand too. Airport officials will often check passengers’ luggage and confiscate these devices, and you could land yourself in hot water if you’re found with them in your bags, such as an on-the-spot fine or even being arrested.

It’s not just vaping either; it’s illegal to smoke in public across Thailand with fines of up to 5000 baht (approximately £115) being handed out to those who flout the law. The ban has been in place since 2014, when the Thai government introduced the rules in a bid to improve people’s health.

The UK government has already warned Brits of the strict rules. The Foreign Office explains in its Thailand travel advice: “It’s illegal to smoke in public with a fine of up to 5,000 Thai baht. E-cigarettes are illegal. You could be fined or imprisoned for carrying or using them.”

It’s not just Thailand that has strict rules around vaping. In Singapore, anyone found possessing or using a vape could be fined up to £1,150.

Meanwhile in Mexico the sale of vapes is generally banned. Holidaymakers have been warned that if they have the devices in their luggage and are stopped by customs officials, they may be asked about the vape and its intended use, with some reports that these devices are often confiscated before travellers have even left the airport.

In Europe, countries such as France and Belgium already have a ban on disposable vapes in place. Meanwhile in Spain, vaping on beaches in Barcelona, Benidorm could mean fines of up to €750 (£650). Over in the Balearic Islands, there are a number of smoke-free beaches as visitors are urged not to litter the sands with cigarette butts.

There could be more rules to follow. Last year, the Canary Islands’ authorities began to consider proposals that would ban smoking on outdoor bar and restaurant terraces on the holiday islands, as well as a ban at bus stop shelters, outdoor sports areas and near entrances to buildings such as schools and hospitals. At the moment, smoking is prohibited in all indoor public spaces, including bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and workplaces.

You should also take note of the UK’s own laws when you head home. As of June 1, 2025, the UK government has banned disposable vapes. Anyone who is found with a single-use vape could find it gets confiscated at the border.

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Brits are being warned to check local laws in their holiday destinations before setting off as multiple countries impose strict vape bans that could result in a hefty fine or even prison time

As summer holiday season kicks off, British travellers are being urged to double-check vaping laws at their holiday destinations or risk hefty fines, confiscation, or even prison.

While most holidaymakers remember to pack suncream, passports and sunglasses, one everyday item could land you in trouble abroad: your vape. UK-based retailer WizVape has issued a warning for travellers this summer after the UK’s own ban on disposable vapes came into effect on June 1, 2025.

With similar restrictions now appearing across Europe and beyond, vape users could easily be caught out by local laws. “Many travellers are unaware that simply carrying a disposable vape could result in confiscation, hefty fines, or even legal trouble abroad,” says Saif Khan, Director at WizVape.

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“Whether you’re heading to the beach or the city this summer, it’s essential to check the local laws before you fly.”

In Europe, countries such as France and Belgium have already implemented full bans on disposable vapes.

In Spain, vaping may still be legal, but using your device on beaches in Barcelona or Benidorm could see you slapped with a fine of up to €750 (£650).

Other European nations are planning restrictions too. A disposable vape ban in Germany has passed the Bundesrat but awaits parliamentary approval.

Ireland are also expected to implement a ban by the end of 2025. In Hungary, flavoured e-liquids and popular devices like Elf Bars are already prohibited.

“Make sure you’re using a reusable device and have packed enough refills so you don’t need to purchase a non-UK friendly vape for your return,” adds Khan.

Outside Europe, the risks are even higher. In Thailand, tourists face severe penalties for possession of any vaping device – including large fines or even jail time. Other destinations with complete bans include:

• Singapore – fines of up to £1,150 for possession.
• Mexico – devices often confiscated at airports.
• India, Qatar, Brazil and Argentina – strict bans and penalties in place.

Travellers returning to the UK should also be cautious about bringing disposables home. With the UK’s ban now in place, anyone caught with a single-use vape could have it confiscated at the border.

“Don’t assume what’s legal abroad is legal at home,” Khan warns. “Stay informed and travel smart this summer.”

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Gogglebox fan favourite Mary Killen has revealed that she’s become ‘addicted’ to vaping in her 60s, despite having never smoked a cigarette – as she reveals her plans to quit

Googlebox fan favourite Mary Killen has revealed she’s become addicted to vaping, despite never having smoked cigarettes.

The star rose to fame in 2015 on Channel 4’s Gogglebox as she and her husband Giles have the nation in hysterics every week as they sit down to watch the latest TV shows.

Despite knowing the ins and outs on their thoughts on the latest episode of Love Island, fans aren’t privvy to much of the Gogglebox stars’ personal life. However, Mary has now opened up about an addiction she just can’t shift – vaping.

Mary, who says she was never interested in cigarettes, revealed that she picked the habit up two years ago, when her friends son, James, 22, offered her a puff of his Juul. “I loved inhaling the odourless air and blowing it out again. It just looked so chic and felt cooling in the palm of the hand,” Mary wrote in her column for MailOnline.

James allowed Mary to keep the vape, and she later found herself buying replacement pods when it ran out. “I reasoned that it would be good if I were to appear to have at least one addiction.

“I would be ‘levelling myself down’, so to speak, in a way that could make me more socially acceptable in drinking circles,” she wrote.

However, her habit doesn’t come cheap, as she explained in her column that she “wastes about £14 a week on four Juul replacement pods.” She then questioned how to break the expensive habit, which she also admits self-pitying and argumentative when she runs out.

Mary admitted she’d “probably kill or be killed by my family members,” if she tried to go cold turkey – revealing that she was going to sign up to a course to help people quit vaping.

It’s not the only revelation Mary has made in her column. Recently, she told viewers about her controversial sleeping arrangements, telling fans she and Giles allowed the dogs on the bed.

Mary and Giles met when they were both 21 years old while Giles was studying at Wimbledon Art School and Mary was working as a model. The pair have been blissfully married for over 30 years, most of which time they have spent living at their cottage in Wiltshire.

The stars share two grownup children who prefer to stay out of the limelight. However, it was actually one of Giles’ daughters that were originally due to appear on the show with her dad before she backed out at the last minute.

After a lengthy phone call to producers, Giles managed to convince Mary to join the show – and the two have become fan favourites ever since their arrival.

Little more is known about Mary and Giles’ daughters however it has been revealed that they are both grown and no longer live at home with their parents.

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DISPOSABLE vapes are being sold for as little as 29p in a “crazy” fire sale before they are banned this weekend. 

It means they are being flogged for less than a Cadbury’s chocolate Freddo bar — which now costs 30p in supermarkets. 

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From Sunday it will be illegal to sell single-use e-cigarettes in the UK under new laws to protect kids and reduce landfill. 

But online sellers are desperate to avoid being stuck with illegal stock with £200 fines looming. 

One site boasting a “UK Vape Bargain Blast” is selling Flavaah Bar disposable vapes for 29p each, down from £5. 

Elf Bars are on sale for 49p each, also down from a fiver. 

And a packet of 20 e-cigs can cost just £10, which would have been £100 a year ago. 

Kate Pike, from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, told The Sun: “This is crazy. 

“We are anticipating a challenging spike in illegal operations and supply during the changeover. 

“Shops have been warned and told to run down their stocks and I’ve seen some unbelievably low prices. 

“This is an addictive product and we shouldn’t be selling them for these prices, but they aren’t doing anything wrong at this stage.” 

Campaigners We Vape said it showed the new law will create a black market and is “impossible to enforce”. 

Ministers have brought in the rule as part of a drive to deter children and teenagers, who often use single-use vapes in fruity flavours, with flavours also set to be banned. 

They also acted on environmental concerns about huge amounts of plastic and lithium batteries being thrown out, with an estimated one million vapes binned every day. 

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VAPING is more addictive than nicotine gum and has a “high potential for abuse”, experts warn.

A study by West Virginia University in the US found that young people enjoy vaping more than chewing gum, which makes it more addictive.

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E-cigarettes were originally invented to help smokers quit tobacco and reduce their risk of cancer.

However, use of the gadgets rocketed in people who never smoked and has become an addiction in its own right.

The study tested the effects of e-cigs and nicotine gum in 16 current or former smokers aged 18 to 24.

They had no nicotine overnight and then chewed gum for 30 minutes or used a vape in the morning, before answering questions about their cravings.

Lower cravings & higher satisfaction

Results showed that people who used vapes rated their cravings and withdrawal feelings significantly lower than gum users, and rated their personal satisfaction higher.

This suggests the e-cigs have a stronger effect which may make it easier to get hooked.

Study author, PhD student Andrea Milstred, said: “Today’s electronic cigarettes have great potential to produce addiction in populations that are otherwise naive to nicotine.

“This often includes youth and young adults.”

The British Government plans to outlaw disposable vapes and crack down on the flavours that are allowed, in a bid to make them less appealing to teenagers and young people.

Writing in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Ms Milstred suggested vaping might be more addictive than gum because it uses a form of nicotine that does not taste as bitter or harsh.

What are the new vape laws?

Ministers have pledged to crackdown on poorly regulated vapes and e-cigarettes following an explosion in the number of teenagers who use them.

New rules for manufacturers and shopkeepers are expected to come into force in late 2024 or early 2025.

They are set to include:

• Higher tax rates paid on vapes increase the price and make it harder for children to afford them
• A ban on single-use vapes in favour of devices that can be recharged
• A ban on colourful and cartoonish packaging that may appeal to youngsters
• Tighter controls on flavourings and a ban on unnecessarily sweet or child-friendly ones like bubblegum and candy
• More regulation on how and where they are displayed in shops, potentially putting them out of sight
• Harsher penalties for shops caught selling them to under-18s

The ban on disposable vapes is part of ambitious government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping.

A report published by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) last June found 20.5 per cent of children in the UK had tried vaping in 2023, up from 15.8 per cent in 2022 and 13.9 per cent in 2020.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also announced plans to impose a tax on imported e-cigs and manufacturers, making vapes more expensive.

The duty will apply to the liquid in vapes, with higher levels for products with more nicotine.

A MUM who was “proud” to quit smoking after 20 years has been “left on her deathbed” and will die if she lies down – after taking up vaping for a year.

Loyda Cordero Faliero, 39, says she made the switch from smoking cigarettes to vaping around 18 months ago because she “thought it would be the healthier option”.

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But at the start of March 2025 – after vaping “24/7” for “little over a year” – she was rushed to the emergency department after her oesophagus “closed-up” and she choked on a sip of her drink.

Loyda was diagnosed with pulmonary bullae [large air spaces] in her lungs and a collapsed lung, which doctors told her was a result of a build-up of fluid from vaping.

The 39-year-old says doctors told her it could “kill her at any moment” if the sacs were to rupture and has to sleep sat up as she could choke to death if she lies down.

Loyda was advised to avoid any physical activity and claims she was told that even lifting a gallon of milk (eight pints) would be too strenuous as it could increase the risk of one of the air-filled sacs rupturing.

The mum-of-two was forced quit vaping in order to be eligible for surgery to remove the sacs from her lungs – and was warned that if she continued the habit then she might not be alive in five years’ time.

Loyda, who is now recovering from the potentially life-saving surgery in hospital, says she wants to warn others of the dangers of vaping.

Speaking before the surgery, Loyda, from Franklinville, New York, US, said: “My doctor said that my lung collapsed because they were building up with the liquid from my vape and one of the pulmonary bullae ended up rupturing.

“My oesophagus is out of place to where the pulmonary bullae sac is putting pressure onto that and if that ruptures, it could cause a bleed on the brain or internal bleeding which could kill me instantly.

“It’s causing a lot of problems. If I lay down when sleeping instead of sitting up I can choke to death on my own spit or I can suffocate and die.

“I literally have to sit up in bed or on a recliner when I sleep because I’m no longer allowed to sleep lying down until after the surgery – it’s pretty much a life or death situation.

“It’s made me very emotional. I quit something thinking that it was going to be healthier but unfortunately it destroyed me more than it benefited me.

“I was so proud of myself for quitting cigarettes and going to something which I thought was healthier.

“I have two grown kids and even if they’re grown, I’m still a mum. I still have responsibilities and I still want to be here for my grandkids.

“Basically I’m on my deathbed and it’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.”

Loyda says she experienced breathlessness, nausea, dizziness and pain in the weeks before her hospital admission – but had put it down to her poor overall health.

After receiving the diagnosis, she says she was ordered by doctors to stop all physical activity in order to reduce the risk of one of the pulmonary sacs rupturing and killing her.

Vaping is 100 per cent more dangerous than cigarettes

Loyda Cordero Faliero

Loyda continued: “I’m not allowed to be active at all as in cleaning, washing dishes or going up and down the stairs.

“They say that even lifting a gallon of my milk is overdoing it for my body because the way that my lung has collapsed, it flares me up really bad.

“I can’t even cook dinner or stand up to do dishes because by the time I’m done with dishes I’m literally crying in pain and gasping for air.

“It really has taken over my life more than I ever thought it would.

“I was told my doctors that I had to quit vaping in order to be accepted for surgery.

“And I can’t go back to smoking after the surgery because this is just going to happen to me again.

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“I’m going to be stuck with this health issue for the rest of my life.

“The doctors said that if I carried on vaping then within the next five years I would end up on life support and I wouldn’t make it because of how badly this damaged my lungs and how badly the liquid has built up in my lungs.”

After giving up vaping completely, Loyda underwent surgery to have the pulmonary sacs removed from her lungs on April 30.

She is now recovering in hospital and wants to help raise awareness and warn others of the potential health problems vaping can cause – and says she believes that it is both more dangerous and harder to quit than smoking cigarettes.

Loyda said: “With a cigarette, you can put it out and do what you’ve got to do but with a vape it’s like a cell phone – it’s literally stuck in your hand 24/7 and you’re hitting it even when you don’t want to hit it just because it’s there.

“It’s horrible. Vaping is 100 per cent more dangerous than cigarettes.”