You are absolutely not allowed to vape in these vacation destinations!

By Derek (Mycoloog & Kruidenexpert)

20 Jun 2019

Vaping is more popular than ever. This week, we published a great article on Dutch Smart featuring the five best portable vaporizers currently available. If you decide to purchase one of these fantastic devices, a great vaping adventure awaits you. But if you thought you could just take a vaporizer with you to any vacation destination this summer, you’re mistaken. Because while vaping is, of course, completely legal here in the Netherlands, that’s not the case in every country. In this article, we’ll take you on a trip around the world and tell you which trips you’d be better off leaving that vaporizer at home for.

More research needed

One of the most common reasons for banning vaporizers and e-cigarettes is the argument that more research is needed. This was also the case in Brazil, for example. An FDA report published in 2009 may have played a role in this. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that vaporizers and e-cigarettes haven’t been studied enough, and more research is needed on the risks and dangers of these devices. Anyway, by now, plenty of evidence has shown that vaping is less harmful than smoking, yet some countries still prefer to see people stick to cigarettes. Well...

It must be said that “banned” has a double meaning in some countries. Because although vaping itself is legal in some countries, it is only prohibited to buy or sell products in the vape category. Two countries where this is the case, for example, are Brazil and Argentina. While it is illegal in both countries to sell vaporizers and vaping products, locals say that blowing a few thick clouds yourself is generally allowed.

By the way, don’t take this article as gospel: thorough preparation before traveling with your vaporizer is always recommended. Trust us: you won’t be the first person to get stopped in a country like India or the Philippines for vaping. This year, too, millions of people are traveling the world, sometimes unaware of the remarkable laws in some countries. A bizarre example: In India, a man was recently imprisoned for three years based on a 78-year-old law—from a time when vaporizers didn’t even exist.

Countries to watch out for

Vaping is completely legal here and in most other countries, but in some popular destinations, penalties range from confiscation or fines to as much as 10 years in prison. So always do a quick Google search before you travel!