Is Menthol Vape Juice Banned In The UK?
The United Kingdom government banned the sale and use of flavoured tobacco, menthol cigarettes in particular, from the 20th May 2020.
This and other changes in tobacco laws are geared towards attaining a smoke-free society. The UK Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) also believes that banning flavoured cigarettes will deter younger people from taking up the habit.
The ban on flavoured tobacco has raised a lot of questions about the legality of flavoured vape juices, with menthol vape juice receiving the most attention due to the similarity of flavour.
To set some misconceptions straight, let’s have a quick look at the current menthol ban in the UK and what it means for vapers.
What The Menthol Cigarette Ban Means
The UK government banned menthol cigarettes primarily due to the more pleasant taste sensation and less-harsh throat hit associated with them.
It is believed that this could encourage children to try menthol cigarettes, likely resulting in them becoming full-on smokers.
According to the government smoking is one of the highest causes of preventable diseases and deaths. Having an alternative to nicotine is one of the best ways of dealing with this crisis.
The ban on flavoured cigarettes in the UK covers menthol cigarettes specifically. This means it is illegal to manufacture, sell or use any menthol flavoured tobacco products in the UK.
The ban includes all filters, capsules, papers, packages, or components with a mentholated flavour.
Unlike other countries with similar laws, the menthol cigarette or cigarette products ban in the UK does not include menthol flavoured vape juices, e-liquids, cartridges, or other vaping products.
Menthol vape juice lovers in the UK have safely escaped the ban and can legally use menthol vape juice. If you are former user of menthol cigarettes consider switching to vaping as an alternative.
As well as providing a wealth of other flavours and the ability to gradually tone-down your nicotine intake, vaping can give you that menthol flavour without risking a fine or even potentially jail time.
What Makes Up Menthol Vape Juice
Also referred to as e-juice or e-liquid, vape juice is a non-tobacco product that is made using vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), and a range of flavourings.
Menthol vape juice is made using a menthol flavour, giving it a refreshing and cooling taste that goes excellently with the hot vapour of a vape device.
While different vapers use various wattages when vaping to get the maximum effect, you might want to start out slowly when vaping a menthol e-liquid.
To get the best experience from menthol vape juice, you should use a low wattage to allows the liquid to vaporise slowly to really maximise that cooling effect.
Why People Choose Menthol Vape Juice
Though the future of menthol vape juice in the UK is unknown, vaping is a great alternative to smoking and can be a great help ideal for cigarette smokers who are trying to quit.
Since Menthol cigarettes have been banned in the UK, using menthol vape juice is a better alternative for menthol lovers.
Vaping is also a fiscally sustainable alternative as vaping devices and e-liquids are, in the long run, far cheaper than traditional cigarettes.
Apart from saving you the money you’d spend for buying the products, many people switch to vaping as a health concern.
Although studies into the long-term effects of vaping are ongoing, it seems evident that vaping contains far fewer carcinogens and other toxins than combustible tobacco.
Just like smoking you will still inhale, exhale, experience a throat hit and a hand to mouth action, and even blow out tricks out of the vapor. Vaping offers a similar experience with fewer immediate health risks.
There are several different types of menthol varieties available in the market. If this kind of cooling flavour is what you want from your vaping experience, there’s something in the market for everyone.
You can choose to start off with a lighter variety or one that sticks to simple pure menthol flavour, before moving on to something more complex.
Some of the menthol flavour varieties available in the market include peppermint, bold leaf, green tea, blue ice, fresh menthol and more.
Since menthol is one of the most popular vape juice flavours, menthol vape juice and cartridges are available throughout the UK.
To make sure you only get the best experience possible, buy from a trusted store in your area or order online from a reputable retailer.
The Difference Between Menthol & Mint Flavours
Although often confused, there is a huge difference between menthol and mint vape juice. Menthol vape juice replicates the cooling sensation that one can experience from traditionally inhaled menthol products.
This is why menthol e-liquids have seen such popularity as restrictions around menthol cigarettes have tightened.
Menthol e-liquids deliver a smoother throat hit and cooling inhalation without a minty flavour. It can have other additional flavours such as lemon, apple, or tobacco.
On the other hand, minty vape juices contain a distinctly minty taste that is rarely mixed with other flavours.
Mint e-liquids tend to come in a variety of strengths and carry a different kind of cooling sensation.
Rather than the almost “numbing” cooling sensation of menthol, these effects are more comparable to drinking water after eating a breath mint.
The sensation comes from the flavour rather than the inherent properties of menthol and as such tend not to last as long.
To get the best effects, consider using menthol juices rather than mint flavoured juices, or otherwise using mint e-liquids at a lower wattage.
Summary
If you are afraid that your favourite menthol vape juice has been banned, you’re in luck. The ban on menthol cigarettes does not cover vape juices, meaning that menthol vape juice is still perfectly legal in the UK.
This of course doesn’t apply to every country so if you’re planning on taking your favourite e-liquids on holiday with you, be certain to check local laws around menthol vape juices and vaping in general before you do.
There are several menthol variants in the UK to choose from and, as more and more people continue to switch to vaping from traditional cigarettes, you can expect more variants to be discovered.
If you are looking for an alternative to traditional menthol cigarettes, menthol vape juice will give you that hit that you crave.
Useful Resources
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaping-in-england-evidence-update-march-2020/vaping-in-england-2020-evidence-update-summary
- https://ash.org.uk/media-and-news/press-releases-media-and-news/advisorymentholban2020/