Vaping

With 5.6 million Brits vaping, travellers are warned to check strict new overseas laws or risk fines, confiscation and legal trouble abroad

British holidaymakers are being warned to double check vaping laws before booking trips abroad after a number of popular holiday destinations tightened restrictions. Online retailer HAYPP says they could risk fines or even legal trouble if local e-cigarette rules are ignored.

Vaping remains hugely popular in the UK with anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reporting around 5.6 million adults currently use e-cigarettes — which amounts to roughly 11 per cent of the total adult population. ASH explained how vaping is particularly common among younger adults between the ages of 18 and 24.

Unsurprisingly, many travellers choose to pack their vapes when heading on holiday — but with international laws varying so widely, doing so could prove a costly mistake. HAYPP‘s Head of Legal & External Affairs, Markus Lindblad, says people must familiarise themselves with the rules as soon as possible to avoid expensive on-the-spot penalties or confiscation.

“Ignorance of your destination country’s laws could wreak havoc on your holiday plans,” he warned. But which countries are a no-go for vapers? The Mirror has a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know before jetting off.

Mexico

On January 16, 2026, Mexico introduced a nationwide ban on the importation, sale and distribution of e-cigarettes and vapes. Lindblad warns that custom officials in destinations like Cancun, Cabo San Lucas or Cozumel are strong enforcers of the ban, and bringing one with you could come with hefty fines of up to £360. “Brits are being warned to leave their vapes at home”, he said.

Vietnam

According to HAYPP, Vietnam is tightening its grip on vaping products in 2026 with increased enforcement of rules around sale, import and public use. Though Cambodia and Laos has already banned vapes entirely, the online retailer says visitors should expect stricter airport checks, and that they should consider leaving the device behind before heading to the airport.

Singapore

Singapore maintains some of the world’s strictest rules against vaping, HAYPP claims. Possession and use of e-cigarettes remain illegal with fines of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (around £1,150), as well as possible prosecution.

Malaysia

Maldives has followed suit and also restricted vape imports this year, with custom officials now authorised to confiscate the products on arrival. Bans on possession and public use are expected to tighten, warns HAYPP, particularly in tourist hubs like Kuala Lampur and Penang.

Maldives

Last but not least, Lindblad explains how any vape-loving holidaymakers from the UK should probably cross the Maldives off their list. That’s because the country has outlawed vape imports with the devices confiscated upon arrival. If you arrive into the Maldives with your e-cigarette or similar electronic device, you may face fines or further legal action, even for personal use, particularly at Malé International Airport.

Strict new rules have been enforced in a favourite winter holiday hot spot that could see any tourist who vapes or brings an electronic cigarette product into the country slapped with a hefty fine or even put behind bars

Thanks to its sunny, comfortable, and dry weather from November through to April, Mexico has been a top destination for those seeking winter warmth for many years.

However, British tourists jetting off to the North American country and its popular holiday spots need to be aware of severe punishments if they break harsh new rules on vaping.

Not only is it now illegal to vape in a public space, where on-the-spot fines can be enforced, but a new ban on importing electronic cigarettes means holidaymakers who enter the country by land or sea with their device on their person could face time in jail.

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Mexico already had strict laws on smoking and vaping in public since 2023, with immediate fines of up to 3,000 Mexican pesos (about £150) enforceable for anyone caught violating the rules. It includes a ban on puffing in beaches, parks, and public transport, as well as enclosed spaces. But on January 16 President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo published a constitutional reform which banned the importation, sale and distribution of vaping products. The law came into force the following day.

The amendment stated: “The law will penalize all activities related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and other analogous electronic systems or devices specified by law, as well as the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl, and other unauthorized synthetic drugs.”

Tourists may think they are exempt from the rules, but they are not, and customs officials in popular destinations like Cancún, Cabo San Lucas, and Cozumel are said to be rigorously enforcing the ban.

Reports vary on what the punishments could be, but the British government strongly advises against taking any devices into the country or using them whilst there. “It is illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vaping devices and solutions into Mexico or to buy and sell them,” it states. “Customs officials will confiscate these items, and they could fine or detain you,” it adds.

As well as affecting flights into Mexico, the ban includes travellers on cruise ships stopping off anywhere on shore. “Disposables, refillable models, pods, and even non-nicotine devices,” are also included in the vape ban,” Cruise Hive reports.

It says that if holidaymakers are caught, they could see their devices confiscated, face huge fines “of up to $12,500, and/or detainment”. The publication adds that the crime is punishable by up to eight years in prison.

One traveller who claimed to have been detained by authorities for being in possession of a vape in the country just after the law was introduced said they were given the choice of prison or a whopping fine. “I came through the airport 1/18 and had a vape. I was detained and given the option of jail or 4K USD fine,” they wrote on Reddit.

Other countries that have imposed laws and bans on vaping include India, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Qatar and Vietnam.

As of last year, it was estimated up to 5.6million Brits were vapers, which equated to around 11% of the population.

For the first time, the number of people who smoke traditional tobacco products in the UK has been outnumbered by vapers.