Can I use e-cigarettes (vape) in public in Malta?
No in enclosed places — in Malta vaping is treated like smoking. Through Legal Notice 22 of 2010 (S.L. 315.09), under the Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act (Cap 315), e-cigarettes and "tobacco devices" fall under the same public-place smoking rules. That means you cannot use a vape in an enclosed public place, on public transport, or in a car carrying a minor under 16. The myth: that "vaping is not smoking, so I can vape indoors wherever I like" — that is no longer true; the public-place restriction was tightened and older guides saying you can vape indoors are out of date. The minimum age to buy is 18, nicotine is capped at 20mg/ml, and EU limits apply to tank and refill size, along with health warnings and product notification before it goes on sale. The two-beach ban (from 2026) also reaches vaping devices.
📋 The rules
- Legal Notice 22 of 2010 (S.L. 315.09) brings e-cigarettes under the Tobacco Act's smoking rules (Cap 315).
- Vaping is banned in enclosed public places, on public transport and in a car with a minor under 16.
- The minimum age to buy vaping products is 18.
- Nicotine content is capped at 20mg/ml, with health warnings and mandatory product notification.
- The 2026 ban on Golden Bay and Ramla l-Ħamra also applies to "tobacco devices", meaning vapes.
🔓 Exceptions
- You may vape in open-air areas and where the owner of a private place allows it — the same logic as tobacco.
- Designated hotel rooms and designated casino smoking areas may allow vaping.
- Nicotine-free products still fall under the rules on smoking-simulating devices in public places.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Once the law treats a vape like a cigarette in public places, vaping where it is prohibited brings the same consequences as smoking. The Tobacco Act sets a fine that — as the euro equivalent of the original lira penalties — starts at about €232.94 and can reach €1,164.69 for a first conviction, with a daily addition while the breach continues, and possible imprisonment for repeat offences. On Golden Bay or Ramla l-Ħamra vaping carries the same €150 tobacco fine, because the legal notice's definition of "tobacco product" includes devices. Selling to a person under 18, or supplying liquid with nicotine above 20mg/ml or without proper notification, can bring penalties on the seller and importer and the removal of the product from the market. The exact fine and tank limits are read off S.L. 315.09 and S.L. 315.10.
📎 Official sources
- Legislation Malta · LN 204 of 2025 — "tobacco product" is defined to include devices →
- Legislation Malta · Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act (Cap 315) →
- MCCAA · e-cigarettes under the Tobacco Act (LN 22 of 2010) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I vape inside a bar or restaurant?
No, not indoors: e-cigarettes fall under the same public-place smoking ban. There was once confusion that vaping is not tobacco, but Legal Notice 22 of 2010 brings it under the Tobacco Act, so in bars and restaurants the same red light applies.
How old do I have to be to buy a vape in Malta?
You must be at least 18 to buy vaping products, the same as tobacco. This age is higher than the alcohol-buying age of 17, so it is worth not confusing them; sellers may ask for proof of age before the sale.
Is there a limit on nicotine in the liquid?
Yes, nicotine content is capped at 20mg/ml, in line with the EU Tobacco Products Directive. Limits also apply to the tank size and the refill bottle, along with health warnings and product notification before it can be sold.
Can I vape on the beach?
On most beaches yes, but not on Golden Bay and Ramla l-Ħamra: from 2026 the smoking ban on these two beaches also covers vaping devices, with a €150 fine. This is because the legal definition of "tobacco product" includes tobacco devices.
Is the vaping fine the same as tobacco?
In practice yes: because the law treats a vape like a cigarette in public places, the same Tobacco Act penalties apply. For the exact figure and the tank limits it is best to refer to S.L. 315.09 and S.L. 315.10, which set out the technical detail.
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