💨 Can I vape anywhere in Iceland?

With conditions

Quick answer

Not anywhere — e-cigarettes are legal for people aged 18 and over, but their use is banned in certain places. Under Act no. 87/2018 on e-cigarettes and refills, an 18-year age limit applies, and only liquid with up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine may be sold. The myth many rely on: that vaping is allowed everywhere because it is not smoke. That is wrong — the Act bans the use of e-cigarettes in, among other places, preschools, primary and secondary schools, premises used for activities for children and young people, healthcare facilities and the service areas of public institutions. An advertising ban applies and the product must not be visible at general points of sale. It is true that the tobacco and e-cigarette laws do not overlap perfectly, but the main rule is clear: you may not vape where children are or where healthcare is provided, and many workplaces and restaurants ban it on top of that through house rules.

📋 The rules

An 18-year age limit applies to the purchase and supply of e-cigarettes and refills under Act no. 87/2018; ID is required where age is in doubt.
Only e-cigarette liquid with up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine may be sold — stronger liquid is not permitted for sale.
Use of e-cigarettes is banned in preschools, primary and secondary schools, premises used for activities for children and young people, in healthcare facilities and in the service areas of public institutions.
An advertising ban applies to e-cigarettes, and the product must not be visible to customers at general points of sale (specialist shops may display it).
The e-cigarette Act and the Tobacco Control Act no. 6/2002 are separate: the tobacco smoking ban does not automatically cover vaping, but workplaces and restaurants may ban both through house rules.

🔓 Exceptions

Adults aged 18 and over may buy and use e-cigarettes; the ban targets minors, certain places, advertising and visibility, not the product itself.
Outdoors and in private homes, vaping is generally allowed, as long as it is not in the banned areas the Act lists.
Individual workplaces, restaurants and landlords may set stricter house rules than the Act requires and ban vaping entirely on their premises.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

As with nicotine pouches, the penalties fall mainly on sellers and operators. Selling e-cigarettes or refills to someone under 18, selling liquid above 20 mg/ml, advertising the product or displaying it in a general shop carries fines under Act no. 87/2018, and supervisory bodies can require corrections and halt sales. An operator who allows vaping where it is banned — for example in a school or a healthcare facility — is responsible for enforcing the ban. For the user, a direct fine is rare, but the hidden cost is twofold: the house rules of workplaces and restaurants, which can lead to removal or sanctions regardless of the law, and the misconception that because it is not smoke it must be allowed, which does not hold where the Act lists the use as banned. Exact fine amounts are not published in a fixed official table.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

What is the maximum nicotine strength in e-liquid?

Only e-cigarette liquid with up to 20 mg/ml of nicotine may be sold under Act no. 87/2018, and stronger liquid is not permitted for sale in Iceland. This cap is set in the Act itself and applies to both disposable e-cigarettes and refills.

Can I vape anywhere?

No, the use of e-cigarettes is banned in, among other places, preschools, primary and secondary schools, premises for children and young people, and healthcare facilities. Outside such places vaping is generally allowed, but workplaces and restaurants may set stricter house rules and ban it entirely on their premises.

Is there an 18-year age limit on e-cigarettes?

Yes, an 18-year age limit applies to the purchase and supply of e-cigarettes and refills under Act no. 87/2018, and the seller must ask for ID if age is in doubt. This is the same age as for nicotine pouches, but lower than the drinking age of 20 years.

Does the tobacco smoking ban also cover vaping?

Not automatically — the e-cigarette Act no. 87/2018 and the Tobacco Control Act no. 6/2002 are separate, so the tobacco smoking ban does not automatically extend to e-cigarettes. The e-cigarette Act does list its own places where vaping is banned, and workplaces and restaurants may ban both through their own house rules.

Can e-cigarettes be advertised in Iceland?

No, an advertising ban applies to e-cigarettes and refills under Act no. 87/2018, and the product should generally not be visible to customers at general points of sale. Specialist shops that sell only e-cigarettes and nicotine products may, however, display the product once the customer is inside.

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