Illicit tobacco and vapes
Signs of illegal tobacco or cigarettes
Illegal tobacco and cigarettes often have:
- non-plain packaging or unfamiliar brands
- no “UK Duty Paid” fiscal mark
- foreign language health warnings or no health warnings at all
- spelling mistakes
- lower prices compared with genuine tobacco products
Vape product requirements
A vape should:
- contain 20mg or less of nicotine
- not have a tank capacity of more than 2ml with a 10ml refill
- have a replaceable coil
- display the correct health warning
- have child-resistant packaging so it is not easy for a child to open or use
Single-use vapes
The single-use vape ban came into effect on 1 June 2025. Any shop caught selling single-use vapes can be prosecuted.
For more information, visit the GOV.UK guidance on the single-use vapes ban
Report a business
Use the report a business form if you believe a business is selling illicit tobacco, vapes or roll-your-own tobacco.