Can I vape wherever I want in Luxembourg?
No — you cannot vape everywhere. Since the law of 13 June 2017, which transposes the EU Tobacco Products Directive, vaping is banned in every place where smoking is banned: enclosed public premises, workplaces, cafés and restaurants, public transport, and children's playgrounds. The e-cigarette is therefore not an exception to the smoking ban — it is treated exactly the same. Sales are banned to under-18s, and since 2026 purchase by a minor is banned too, with the seller required to ask for ID in case of doubt. E-liquids and devices must meet the EU caps (limited nicotine, restricted containers) and be notified to the authorities before they go on sale. The myth: "vaping is allowed where cigarettes are not, since there's no smoke" — false: the law puts vaping and tobacco on exactly the same footing when it comes to places.
📋 The rules
- Vaping treated as tobacco: banned in every place where smoking is banned — enclosed public places, workplaces, food and drink venues, public transport (law of 13 June 2017).
- Playgrounds: vaping, like smoking, is banned on children's playgrounds.
- Sales to minors: sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids is banned to under-18s; since 2026, purchase by a minor is banned too and the seller must ask for ID in case of doubt.
- Product standards: e-liquids follow the caps of Directive 2014/40/EU — nicotine at 20 mg/ml maximum, refill bottles of 10 ml, tanks of 2 ml — and must be notified before being sold.
- Advertising: advertising and sponsorship for e-cigarettes are heavily restricted, just as for tobacco.
🔓 Exceptions
- Open-air terraces: as with cigarettes, a genuinely open terrace is not an "enclosed" place — vaping there remains possible, unless the venue or the commune says otherwise.
- Private home: at home there is no legal ban on vaping; the rules target public, work and transport settings.
- Medical substitutes: patches and gums for quitting fall under a different framework; the e-cigarette itself is not classed as a medicine and remains subject to the tobacco law.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Vaping in a banned place exposes you to the same penalties as smoking: a fine under the tobacco legislation, usually served as a fixed penalty, rising on repeat. For the operator of a café, restaurant or workplace the stakes are higher: they must enforce the ban, display the signage and can be sanctioned if they tolerate vaping on their premises — their liability and, in time, their licence are on the line. Selling to a minor under 18 is punishable, and a trader who does not check age risks prosecution. Selling non-compliant or un-notified e-liquids — nicotine above the cap, oversized containers — leads to the withdrawal of the products and administrative penalties. Finally, Customs monitors imports: bringing in large quantities from abroad can be reclassified as trade.
📎 Official sources
- Santé.lu · Health portal (home) — e-cigarettes and nicotine products →
- Legilux · official journal (home) — law of 13 June 2017 transposing Directive 2014/40/EU →
- Ma vie sans tabac · Fondation Cancer (home) — Luxembourg tobacco legislation →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I vape in a restaurant or café?
No: inside a food and drink venue, vaping is banned exactly like smoking, since the law puts the two on the same footing. You may only vape on a genuinely open terrace, and even then only if neither the operator nor a communal regulation objects.
Is the e-cigarette really treated like tobacco?
Yes for where you can use it: the 2017 law bans vaping everywhere smoking is banned. The product itself, though, follows specific rules from the EU directive, notably nicotine caps and a duty to notify before sale.
What age can you buy an e-cigarette at?
Sales have been banned to under-18s since 2017, and since 2026 purchase by a minor is banned too. Where age is in doubt, the seller is required to ask for identification before completing the sale.
Can I vape on public transport?
No, public transport is among the places where smoking is banned, so vaping is banned there as well. The rule applies on buses, trains and trams, and in covered stations and stops open to the public.
Can I bring lots of e-liquids from abroad?
For strictly personal use small quantities are tolerated, but the e-liquids must comply with EU standards. Bringing in large volumes can be reclassified as trade by Customs and lead to taxation and penalties.
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