Regulation. Pure and simple. The UK has one of the most rigorous regulatory systems for e-cigarettes anywhere in the world. The regulation in the USA predominantly focuses on age restriction, rather than ingredient control, and as a result there is enormous variation in the quality and strength of e-liquids.

Many of the e-liquids produced in the USA use chemicals that are banned here, such as; Diacetyl, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Vitamin E Acetate. We also regulate against the strength of Nicotine allowed in an e-liquid (and volume sold) if there is 18mg/ml or more of Nicotine in the bottle. In the UK the legal limit is 20mg/ml. Many USA e-liquids contain 3 times the amount of Nicotine than UK liquids.

Nicotine is highly toxic when swallowed but is proven to have minimal impact on health when inhaled – other than it being highly addictive.¹⁰

An alarming number of people are getting sick in America as a result of vaping and the root causes are often the same – using black-market/homemade e-liquid which often contain dangerous compounds for diluting or thickening the liquid. The difference between USA and UK vaping products and regulations is huge. From ingredients, to the availability of black-market product, and the accessibility of dangerous chemicals/additives. While the specific ingredient(s) have yet to be identified, the American authorities have narrowed their focus to Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil and Vitamin E Acetate. In almost all reported cases, THC compounds were found in the lung excretions of patients.⁶

THC is the psychogenic element found in marijuana and is illegal in the UK.

Vitamin E Acetate is used as a binding agent (to increase potency/make the THC oil go further). Vitamin E Acetate leaves behind a honey type liquid in the lungs causing serious, often life threatening, lung damage. It too is illegal in the UK when used in e-liquids.

Popcorn Lung is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans and is a very rare condition (even in the USA) that damages your lungs’ smallest airways and makes you cough and feel short of breath. The name Popcorn Lung came about after workers at a popcorn factory were found to have bronchiolitis obliterans more often than most people as it’s sometimes caused by breathing in a chemical used to flavour microwave popcorn.

Your lungs are where your blood picks up oxygen before carrying it to cells in the rest of your body. When you breathe in, air flows into your lungs through your windpipe, or trachea. Your windpipe divides into two tubes called the bronchi, which lead to your left and right lungs. Inside your lungs, those tubes split again and again, like the branches of a tree. The smallest of those branches are called bronchioles, and they end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are where the oxygen is picked up by your blood.

When you have Popcorn Lung, those tiny air passages get irritated and inflamed. That leads to scarring that makes them narrower. That makes it harder for you to get enough air.¹³  The damage caused by Popcorn Lung is often irreversible.

Diacetyl is the chemical found in flavouring that produced a buttery taste and is frequently associated  with causing Popcorn Lung but other chemicals, or lung illnesses, can also cause Popcorn Lung. The name Popcorn Lung came about after workers at a popcorn factory were found to have bronchiolitis obliterans more often than most people.

NEVER use an e-liquid that has not come from a reputable retailer or manufacturer. Many of the people (predominantly aged 18-24 years) affected in America were using liquids that had been produced cheaply, often using illegal substances to ‘cut’ the chemicals into a state that can be vapourized.6 

NEVER use an e-liquid that has not come from a reputable retailer or manufacturer. Many of the people (predominantly aged 18-24 years) affected in America were using liquids that had been produced cheaply, often using illegal substances to ‘cut’ the chemicals into a state that can be vapourized.⁶

Black-market e-liquids may include:

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) – is the compound found in marijuana that causes a person to get ‘high.’  THC is illegal in the UK.

Vitamin E Acetate can be used to help make THC oil go further and is also illegal in the UK for use in e-liquids.

Many of the people affected in the US were vaping marijuana (THC oil – illegal here in the UK) which had been ‘cut’ using Vitamin E Acetate.

An e-liquid solution generally has four key components; Nicotine, Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and food grade flavourings (which contain different compounds depending on the flavour).

The solution vapourizes when heated and translates flavour, as well as throat and Nicotine ‘hit’ when inhaled, to simulate smoking.⁴

Propylene Glycol (PG):

PG helps to produce what is referred to as the ‘throat hit’ in combination with Nicotine and flavours. It is this ingredient that helps to create the sensation of smoking.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG):

VG is included to help produce more dense clouds of vapour and adds a complimentary sweetness and smoothness to the e-liquid.

What difference does the mix make to my vaping experience?

• A higher PG content will produce a sensation close to that of smoking.
• Higher VG will allow you to exhale large clouds of vapour, with a reduced ‘throat hit.’

All Ibiza Club E-Liquids are a 50:50 mix of PG and VG. This means you can use our E-Liquids in any device. We were one of the first UK manufacturers to make this mix our standard. It is often referred to as a ‘Universal E-Liquid.’

Nicotine is highly toxic when swallowed but is proven to have minimal impact on health when inhaled – other than it being highly addictive.¹⁰

All Ibiza Club E-Liquids are a 50:50 mix of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG). This means you can use our E-Liquids in any device. We were one of the first UK manufacturers to make this mix our standard. It is often referred to as a ‘Universal E-Liquid.’

Propylene Glycol (PG):

PG helps to produce what is referred to as the ‘throat hit’ in combination with Nicotine and flavours. It is this ingredient that helps to create the sensation of smoking.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG):

VG is included to help produce more dense clouds of vapour and adds a complimentary sweetness and smoothness to the e-liquid.

• A higher PG content will produce a sensation close to that of smoking.
• Higher VG will allow you to exhale large clouds of vapour, with a reduced ‘throat hit.’

If you are looking for a smoother ‘throat hit’ try using our NIC-Salt E-Liquids.

Nicotine is highly toxic when swallowed, but is proven to have minimal impact on health when inhaled, other than it being highly addictive.¹⁰

Yes. Both in terms of ingredients and how they can be sold (size & strength).

Banned Ingredients in the UK:

• Diacetyl has been linked to issues in the USA (Popcorn Lung). It is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH₃CO)₂ and any e-liquid produced or sold in the UK should not contain Diacetyl.
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychogenic element found in marijuana.
• Vitamin E Acetate is used as a molecular binding agent (to increase potency/make the THC oil go further). Vitamin E Acetate leaves behind a honey type liquid in the lungs causing serious, often life threatening, lung damage.

UK Volume & Nicotine Strength Restrictions:

• An e-liquid that contains Nicotine must be in a container no larger than 10ml in capacity.
• Clearomizers, atomizers and pods must not have a capacity larger than 2ml.
• The current legal Nicotine strength allowed in e-liquid in the UK is limited to 20mg/ml.

Nicotine is highly toxic when swallowed but is proven to have minimal impact on health when inhaled – other than it being highly addictive.¹⁰

Yes. Both the manufacture and sale of vaping products are strictly controlled in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Buy your vaping supplies from a reputable retailer. NEVER make them yourself or buy from the black-market. The UK has one of the most stringent regulatory systems for vaping in the world (it’s why we haven’t seen any of the medical issues being experienced in America), it’s strict, but it works.

All reputable manufacturers list their products with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). There is a list of every manufacturer in the UK.

MHRA also operate a system for reporting any issues with vaping via their ‘yellow card’ programme.

If you have purchased any vaping products that have made you feel unwell or have become dangerous to use head to yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk to register your concerns.