💨 Can I use an e-cigarette or heated tobacco inside a venue?

With conditions

Quick answer

Not inside: e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and shisha are treated just like a classic cigarette in enclosed spaces. The 2019 amendment to Law no. 9636/2006 widened the ban: vaping and “shishas” are banned in bars, offices, institutions and public transport, with the same rules and the same fines as tobacco. The strongest myth today is exactly “vaping is not tobacco, I can do it anywhere” — no, in an enclosed space it is not allowed and the venue answers for it. Outside, in open spaces or in your own home, you may use it; the ban is tied to the enclosed public space, not to the device. For a venue that allows it inside, the fine starts at 300,000 lek and rises to 600,000 lek for a repeat within 3 months. Selling e-cigarettes to people under 18 is likewise banned, so age and the enclosed space are the two limits most often forgotten.

📋 The rules

Since the 2019 amendment, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and shisha are subject to the same enclosed-space ban as tobacco.
Vaping is banned in bars, restaurants, offices, institutions, schools and on public transport.
The main responsible party for a breach inside is the venue/owner, fined 300,000 lek, doubling to 600,000 lek for a repeat within 3 months.
Selling e-cigarettes and their liquids to people under 18 is banned.
Use outside, in open spaces or in a private space, is not covered by the enclosed-space ban.

🔓 Exceptions

Open spaces are treated differently; but a space closed on the sides and covered can count as indoor for vaping too.
Responsibility falls mainly on the venue, but an individual who vapes in a banned place can also be fined.
Rules on sale, packaging and “flavours” attractive to young people may be stricter than the simple ban on using inside.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Just as with classic tobacco, the heavy fine is carried by the venue, not the user. A venue that allows vaping or shisha inside is fined 300,000 lek, with a doubling to 600,000 lek for a repeat within 3 months and the risk of suspension and licence revocation for continuous breaches. Many businesses have misread this point, thinking “since it is not tobacco smoke, there is no fine” — and have been penalised all the same. Watch the figure: “300 thousand” and “600 thousand” new lek are heard in speech as “3 million” and “6 million” old lek, but it is the same measure. For the individual there is a smaller fine, while selling to minors brings extra sanctions. The other consequence, not seen at once, is legal: a venue that ignores the rule piles up repeated breaches and risks closure.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Is an e-cigarette allowed inside a venue?

No. Since the 2019 amendment, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and shisha are subject to the same enclosed-space ban as tobacco. Use inside is a breach and it is mainly the venue that allows it which answers for it.

Is vaping really equal to tobacco before the law?

In enclosed spaces, yes. The law treats e-cigarettes and “shishas” with the same rules and fines as a classic cigarette, so the belief that “vaping is not tobacco, there is no rule” is wrong and has brought fines to many venues.

Where can I freely use my e-cigarette?

In open spaces or in your own private space. The ban is tied to the enclosed public space, not to the device itself, so outside or at home the use does not fall under this ban. The space decides, not the device: inside an enclosed venue it is not allowed, while outside it is.

How big is the fine for a venue that allows vaping inside?

The venue is fined 300,000 lek, a sum that doubles to 600,000 lek if the breach is repeated within three months. Further repeats can lead to suspension of the activity and revocation of the licence.

Can I sell an e-cigarette to a 17-year-old?

No. Selling e-cigarettes and their liquids to people under 18 is banned, just as for tobacco products. This applies to every shop, market or point of sale, regardless of whether the product contains nicotine or not.

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