Yes, travelling is pretty tricky now, but maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who’s allowed to travel. Or maybe you want to make plans for the future when we’re allowed to travel again. If either is true, you’re in the right place!
Take a look at some of the things you should pay attention to if you’re a vaper and plan to travel to Europe at some point in the future.
Packing and the flight
First of all, you should know how to pack your vaping supplies and how much to bring. Rules among airlines vary, but TSA prohibits battery-powered items in check-in luggage. So, you’ll have to bring vape kits and pod mods with you in your carry-on.
Keep in mind that you won’t be allowed to bring vaping liquid in your cabin luggage if the container exceeds 100ml. If you have a larger e-liquid bottle, transfer the content to smaller ones or wrap it securely and put it in your checked luggage.
Mind the local regulations
Vaping is legal in all countries in Europe, so you don’t have to worry about that. However, EU vaping laws limit the concentration of nicotine in e-liquids. If you’re not using e-liquids with nicotine or are used to those with lower nicotine content, then you’re probably fine. It’s difficult to find vaping liquids with more than 2% nicotine anywhere in the EU. If you crave a stronger nicotine kick, you’ll just have to bring some supplies with you or buy them through an approved pharmaceutical network.
In general, you can expect that all restrictions that apply to smoking also apply to electronic cigarettes. Exceptions exist, though. For example, the UK doesn’t regulate vaping in the same way, so vaping in public places is allowed. On the other hand, individual establishments are allowed to set their own policies, and most will lump vaping in the same category as smoking.
Some countries prohibit the sale of vaping products to anyone under the age of 18 (16 Belgium) and some limit container size to 10ml. Check out the list of countries with vaping restrictions when making your itinerary and plan accordingly.
Supplies can be pricey
The biggest issue you’re likely to encounter is cost. While vaping is perfectly legal in Europe, it’s also heavily taxed. To get around high costs, you can try ordering your supplies online or just bringing some extra ones with you. The latter may get you in trouble with customs if you’re planning a longer trip, so use common sense and check how much you’re allowed to bring into any given country at one time.
Another thing bringing up the cost of a vaping habit is the maximum bottle regulation. Since the largest bottle you can buy in the EU is 10ml, this can quickly add up if you’re a heavy vaper. Buying in bulk can help ameliorate this somewhat, as you can get some nice discounts on bulk purchases.
Respect the local customs
Perhaps a country allows vaping wherever. Perhaps even the establishment doesn’t have any rules against it. That doesn’t mean the locals will be fine with you vaping strongly nicotine scented e-cigarette in a crowded place. Use your common sense and be respectful. As a rule of thumb, if it would be impolite for you to light up a cigarette, it would probably be just as impolite to start vaping. When in doubt, ask. You lose nothing, and you’ll put some weight off your mind.
Wrapping up
So, if you’re planning a trip to Europe and want to continue vaping while traveling, get as much information as you can about local regulations and customs. You might be able to vape indoors in one place and only outdoors elsewhere. Do your research and if you’re uncertain about anything, just ask the locals.
In the end, there’s no need to worry about vaping while on a holiday or a business trip in Europe. Just make sure that you have all the information you’re going to need. Pack carefully (it doesn’t hurt to bring some extra e-liquid), research destination countries, and respect local customs. If you’ve done all that, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your trip!
