The modern e-cigarette was developed in China in 2003 and sold there from 2004. It reached Europe around 2005, then appeared in the UK around 2006–2007. There was no single British launch day. Products arrived gradually through importers, online sellers and specialist retailers.
This guide separates the invention, commercial release and UK arrival dates, then follows the shift towards regulated reusable kits.
Key Takeaway: When Did Vape Come in The UK?
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Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik developed the modern e-cigarette in 2003.
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The first successful commercial version went on sale there in 2004.
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E-cigarettes reached Europe around 2005.
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Vapes appeared in the UK around 2006–2007 but remained unfamiliar at first.
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UK vaping grew quickly during the 2010s.
When Were Vapes First Available in the UK?
Vapes started entering the UK market during the mid-2000s. Around 2006–2007 is the most defensible date range.
A Public Health England-Commissioned Report dates the European arrival to about 2005 and UK emergence to around 2007. This explains the different dates found online. Imports and online sales spread gradually, with no nationwide release.
Short answer: Vapes first became available in the UK around 2006–2007, several years after the modern e-cigarette was developed in China.
Who Invented the Vape?
Hon Lik is credited with the first commercially successful modern e-cigarette, but related ideas existed much earlier.
Early Vape Ideas Before 2003
Joseph Robinson filed a 1927 patent application for an Electric Vaporiser for inhaling heated medicinal compounds. In 1963, Herbert A. Gilbert applied for a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” patent, granted in 1965. It drew warm, flavoured air through a cigarette-shaped device.
Neither became a successful consumer product. They were predecessors, not the vapes later sold in Britain.
Hon Lik and the First Commercially Successful E-Cigarette
Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik developed the modern e-cigarette in 2003. The US Surgeon General’s Historical Overview says Ruyan introduced it in China in 2004. Its battery-powered system turned liquid into an inhalable aerosol. Later devices kept the basic power source, reservoir and atomising component.
Visual suggestion: Compare Gilbert’s patent drawing with a permitted image of Hon Lik’s early design. Note that a patent is not a commercial release.
What Did the First UK Vapes Look Like?
The earliest products looked more like cigarettes than most modern Vape Kits.
First-Generation Cigalikes
“Cigalikes” were slim and cigarette-shaped, often with a tip light and small liquid cartridge. Their batteries needed frequent charging and performance could be inconsistent.
Vape Pens and Refillable Tanks
Next came larger rechargeable batteries, refillable tanks and replaceable coils. They lasted longer and made maintenance easier. Pen-style bodies also moved away from the cigarette look.
Pod Kits and Modern Reusable Vapes
Modern Refillable Pod Kits pair rechargeable batteries with prefilled or refillable pods. Many are draw-activated. These formats gained importance after the 2025 ban. The Vaping Glossary explains device terms.
When Did Vaping Become Popular in the UK?
Availability did not make vaping mainstream overnight. Wider adoption came years later.
2006–2011: The Early UK Vape Market
Early e-cigarettes remained niche, mainly found online and through specialist sellers. Small batteries and uneven performance limited their appeal.
2012–2015: Rapid Growth in Adult Vaping
ASH Data puts current adult vapers in Great Britain at 0.8 million in 2012, 1.3 million in 2013, 2.1 million in 2014 and 2.7 million in 2015. Vaping was now visibly established.
2021–2024: Disposables and a Second Growth Period
Modern disposable-style devices surged after 2021. ASH reports that the share of adult vapers mainly using disposables rose from 2% in 2021 to 31% in 2023, before declining. This boom was separate from the original UK arrival roughly 15 years earlier.
Estimated number of current adult vapers in Great Britain, 2012–2026. Source: ASH Smokefree GB survey.
UK Vaping Timeline: From Early Patents to Modern Pod Kits
The timeline separates invention, release, UK availability and regulation.
|
Year |
Development |
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1927 |
Joseph Robinson files an electric vaporiser patent. |
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1963–1965 |
Herbert Gilbert applies for and receives his patent. |
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2003 |
Hon Lik develops the modern e-cigarette in China. |
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2004 |
Ruyan introduces the modern e-cigarette in China. |
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Around 2005 |
E-cigarettes begin reaching Europe. |
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Around 2006–2007 |
Vapes start appearing on the UK market. |
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2012 |
Great Britain has 0.8 million adult vapers. |
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2016 |
UK product regulations come into force. |
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2021–2023 |
Modern disposables rise sharply. |
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2025 |
Single-use vape sales and supply are banned. |
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2026 |
Great Britain has 5.5 million adult vapers. |
Electric inhalation concepts existed for decades, but the modern vape became commercially viable in the 2000s.
How Did UK Vape Laws Change After Vapes Arrived?
Product rules became more detailed as vaping moved into the mainstream.
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016
The regulations came into force on 20 May 2016, with sell-through ending in May 2017. Current MHRA Guidance includes:
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A maximum 2ml tank capacity
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A maximum 10ml refill container for nicotine-containing e-liquid
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A nicotine strength limit of 20mg/ml
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Packaging, labelling and product-notification requirements
The UK Single-Use Vape Ban in 2025
Businesses could no longer legally sell or supply single-use vapes from 1 June 2025. The ban covers products with and without nicotine, but compliant Reusable Vapes remain legal.
GOV.UK Guidance says a reusable vape needs a rechargeable battery and refillable container. Any coil must be replaceable, either directly or within a replacement pod or cartridge.
How Are Today’s Vapes Different From the First E-Cigarettes?
The principle is similar, but design and usability have changed considerably.
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Feature |
Early UK E-Cigarettes |
Modern Reusable Vapes |
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Common design |
Cigarette-shaped cigalike |
Pod kit, vape pen or tank system |
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Battery |
Small, rechargeable |
Larger, rechargeable |
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E-liquid system |
Small cartridge |
Prefilled pod, refillable pod or tank |
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Coil system |
Often built in |
Replaceable coil or pod |
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Controls |
Basic and automatic |
Draw activation, buttons or settings |
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Current UK status |
Mostly outdated |
Must meet current rules |
Modern Prefilled Pod Kits keep cigalike portability while reusing the battery. TPD-Compliant Vapes meet current market requirements.
So, When Did Vapes Come Out in the UK?
The modern e-cigarette was created in China in 2003 and reached Europe around 2005. Vapes appeared in the UK around 2006–2007 but were not widely established until the early 2010s.
The market has since moved from cigarette-shaped devices towards regulated reusable pod and tank systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Year Were Vapes Invented?
Hon Lik developed the modern e-cigarette in China in 2003. Earlier patents did not become successful consumer vapes.
When Did E-Cigarettes First Go on Sale in the UK?
They began appearing around 2006–2007, arriving gradually through importers and specialist sellers.
Who Invented the First Modern Vape?
Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented the first modern vape.
When Did Vaping Become Popular in the UK?
Adult use grew rapidly in the early 2010s, from 0.8 million current vapers in 2012 to 2.7 million in 2015.
When Did Disposable Vapes Come Out in the UK?
Some early e-cigarettes were single-use. The modern disposable bars associated with the recent boom became prominent around 2021 and peaked among adult vapers in 2023.
Are Disposable Vapes Still Legal in the UK?
Businesses cannot legally sell or supply single-use vapes. The 1 June 2025 ban covers nicotine and nicotine-free products. Compliant reusable vapes remain legal for adults.
