Smoking and vaping laws in Northern Ireland
It is against the law to smoke in most enclosed public places and workplaces in Northern Ireland. You could be fined for smoking in these places.
Where you can't smoke
Under the smoke-free regulations in Northern Ireland, it is against the law to smoke in:
- pubs, bars and nightclubs
- cafés and restaurants
- membership clubs
- indoor shopping centres
- offices and factories
- public transport
- work vehicles used by more than one person
Indoor smoking rooms aren't allowed. If you smoke, you have to go outside.
It is also an offence to smoke in a 'smoke-free' private vehicle.
A private vehicle is smoke-free if all of the following conditions are met:
- it is enclosed
and
- has more than one person in it
and
- has someone under the age of 18 in it
A vehicle is still enclosed even if the windows are down and/ or the doors are open.
The rules do not apply to:
- motorcycles
- convertible cars when the roof is completely down
Caravans and motor homes are only required to be smoke-free when they are on the road.
Where you can smoke
You can smoke:
- in your own home, except in any part that is used only as a place of work by more than one person
- in your own vehicle, as long as it is used primarily for private purposes (however, if your vehicle is enclosed and more than one person is present, there must not be anyone under the age of 18 in the vehicle)
- outdoors, in areas that are not 'substantially enclosed'
Outdoor places where you can't smoke
Some outdoor places have a smoke-free policy (some policies may also include vaping). For example, you must not smoke:
- on train platforms
- in certain sports stadia
- on Health and Social Care Trust-owned grounds including car parks
Exceptions
There are some specific exemptions to the smoke-free law, with strict conditions.
Designated rooms for smoking are allowed in certain types of places, including:
- bedrooms in hotels and guesthouses (but not dormitories)
- care homes and hospices
- prisons
Restrictions on retailers
It is illegal for a retailer to sell either tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes/ vapes) to anyone under the age of 18.
This includes:
- cigarette papers
- e-cigarette/ vaping device refill containers
Other restrictions on retailers selling tobacco products include:
- a requirement to register
- a ban on the display of tobacco products in shops
- a ban on selling or supplying single-use vapes
Further information on selling age-restricted products, including penalties and fines for underage tobacco and nicotine inhaling product sales, can be found at the following link:
Buying or trying to buy on behalf of a child
It is an offence for an adult to buy, or try to buy, any tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes/ vapes) on behalf of someone under the age of 18 (known as proxy purchasing).
Penalties and fines
Failure to comply with the law is a criminal offence.
If you smoke in smoke-free premises, work vehicles or smoke-free private vehicles, you may be fined a fixed penalty notice of £50 (reduced to £30 if paid in 15 days) or up to £1,000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
If you are a driver of a smoke-free private vehicle and allow someone else to smoke in the vehicle, you may be fined £50, or up to £2,500 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
If you buy or try to buy, tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes/ vapes) for someone under the age of 18, you may be fined a fixed penalty notice of £250, or up to £5,000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
There are also penalties and fines in place for businesses that:
- allow smoking in a smoke-free place or work vehicle
- fail to display no smoking signs in smoke-free premises or work vehicles
- sell tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products to people under 18 years old
- sell or display single-use vapes
Local councils are primarily responsible for giving advice and enforcing the smoke-free and tobacco/ nicotine age of sale restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Reporting smoking in a smoke-free area
Contact the local council to report breaches of the smoke-free law. The council will investigate.