UK Considers £100 Fines for Vaping at Outdoor Bus Stops

UK Vaping Ban Bus Stop Vape Fine

People who vape at outdoor bus stops in the United Kingdom could soon face fines of up to £100 under a new law being discussed in Parliament. This proposal would grant transportation authorities new powers to penalize vaping in these specific public areas, with failure to pay promptly potentially increasing the fine to as much as £1,000. The move comes shortly after the country’s ban on disposable vapes took effect in June and signals a potentially less welcoming environment for these tobacco harm reduction tools.

While vaping is already prohibited inside bus stations and onboard buses, this new law would extend restrictions to outdoor bus stops, placing vaping on par with smoking in these public spaces. The UK’s Health Act 2006 already bans smoking in “substantially closed” premises, which includes many bus shelters.

The proposal has drawn criticism from vapers and harm reduction experts, who argue it sends a damaging and confusing message. George Sweatman, who switched from smoking to vaping a year ago, noted a contradiction: “The government seems to be pushing people to quit smoking by using vaping, whilst trying to restrict the use of vapes in public areas.” He believes common courtesy should prevail over fines. Clarissa Harding, another vaper, questioned the logic, suggesting that being able to vape before a bus arrives makes her less likely to want to do so onboard.

Tobacco harm reduction expert Clive Bates of Counterfactual Consulting stated there is “negligible risk to bystanders” from passive vaping, especially outdoors, compared to the significant health benefit of people using vapes to avoid smoking. He expressed doubt the proposal would pass but noted, “The fact that it is even under discussion shows how infantile the public debate about vaping and smoking has become.”

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) guidance, while erring on the side of caution, states that “the risks of passive smoking with conventional cigarettes do not apply to e-cigs,” and that limited evidence suggests any risk from passive vaping to bystanders is small relative to tobacco smoke. Critics fear that equating the two in public spaces could discourage smokers from switching, especially when many already mistakenly believe vaping is as harmful as smoking.

Matthew Ma
Follow
Latest posts by Matthew Ma (see all)

Related posts:

Kentucky 7th underage vaping hotspotVaping and Driving in Kentucky: What Does the Law Say? Kyrgyz Republic bans e-cigarettes protect healthKyrgyzstan Republic to Ban Electronic Cigarettes on July 1, 2025 Louisiana unapproved vape products banLouisiana Starts to Ban Unapproved Vape Products Smoking cessation programs embrace vaping evidenceCoEHAR Catania Study Confirms E-Cigarettes’ Effectiveness for Smoking Cessation New Zealand Vaping Regulation and Smokefree HistoryNew Zealand Vaping Regulation and Smokefree History