can you smoke in prison?
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Can You Smoke in Prison?
No. UK prisons are smoke free, but approved vaping is allowed via the canteen under strict rules. How the rules and support work.
If you or a family member are facing time in prison, it is natural to ask about smoking. The position in the UK is that prisons are smoke free, so smoking tobacco is not allowed, but approved vaping is permitted as an alternative. This reflects a wider move to protect prisoners and staff from second hand smoke. This guide explains the smoke free rules, what vaping is allowed, and how the practicalities work inside.
Quick answer
UK prisons are smoke free, so smoking tobacco is not allowed indoors. To help with the transition, approved e cigarettes can be bought through the prison canteen and used under strict rules. Prisoners cannot bring their own vape in, and tobacco is treated as contraband.
The smoke free rule
Closed prisons across England and Wales became smoke free, phased in over recent years and complete by 2018, with Scotland and Northern Ireland moving the same way. The aim was to protect prisoners and staff from second hand smoke in confined spaces. As a result, smoking tobacco is banned, and bringing tobacco in is treated as smuggling contraband.
Smoking and vaping in UK prisons
| Activity | Position |
|---|---|
| Smoking tobacco | Not allowed; prisons are smoke free |
| Approved vaping | Permitted, bought via the prison canteen |
| Bringing your own vape in | Not allowed |
| Bringing tobacco in | Treated as contraband |
| Quit support | NRT and cessation help offered |
What vaping is allowed
To help prisoners move away from tobacco, approved e cigarettes can be purchased through the canteen at the prisoner''s own expense. These are typically closed system, tamper resistant devices chosen for the secure environment. Where and how they can be used varies, for example use may be limited to a cell in closed prisons, with designated outdoor areas in open prisons, so local rules apply.
The simple picture is no smoking, but approved vaping allowed under strict rules. It is part of keeping prisons smoke free while supporting people off tobacco.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| You can smoke in your cell | No. UK prisons are smoke free. |
| Vaping is banned in prison too | Approved vaping is permitted under strict rules. |
| You can bring your own vape in | No. Devices are bought through the canteen. |
| There is no quit support inside | NRT and cessation support are offered. |
Practicalities and support
Because the rules can differ between establishments and over time, the specifics, like exactly where vaping is allowed and what products are stocked, are set locally. Prisoners who smoked are offered support to quit, including nicotine replacement therapy. For families, it is worth knowing that you cannot send tobacco or vapes in, and that approved products are bought inside.
Key points for prisoners and families
- Smoking tobacco is not allowed; prisons are smoke free
- Approved e cigarettes can be bought via the canteen
- You cannot bring your own vape or tobacco in
- Where vaping is allowed varies by prison
- Quit support including NRT is offered
Frequently asked questions
Can you smoke in prison in the UK?
No. UK prisons are smoke free, so smoking tobacco is not allowed.
Can you vape in prison?
Yes, using approved e cigarettes bought through the canteen, under strict rules that vary by prison.
Can you bring your own vape into prison?
No. Approved devices are purchased inside, and bringing your own in is not allowed.
What happens to tobacco brought in?
It is treated as contraband, which can lead to disciplinary action or prosecution.
Is there help to quit smoking inside?
Yes. Nicotine replacement therapy and cessation support are offered.
The bottom line
UK prisons are smoke free, so smoking tobacco is not permitted, while approved e cigarettes can be bought through the canteen and used under strict, locally set rules. Prisoners cannot bring their own devices or tobacco in, and tobacco is treated as contraband. Quit support including NRT is available, reflecting the wider goal of protecting prisoners and staff from second hand smoke. If you are supporting someone inside, knowing that approved vapes are available through the canteen can be reassuring, as it means they are not left without any option for managing nicotine cravings during their sentence.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. For anything personal or about your own health, a GP, pharmacist or dentist can advise, and a free local stop smoking service can help if you want to reduce or stop using nicotine.
- Can you smoke on a cruise ship?
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- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Why prisons went smoke free
The move to smoke free prisons came from a clear public health concern, protecting prisoners and staff from second hand smoke in confined, shared spaces. With a high proportion of prisoners having smoked, enclosed cells and wings meant significant exposure for everyone, including non smokers and staff who had little choice in the matter.
Allowing approved vaping alongside the ban was a practical, harm reduction step. It gave people a far less harmful alternative to tobacco, helped manage the transition, and supported the wider goal of reducing smoking. Quit support such as nicotine replacement therapy backs this up.
The smoke free picture
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reason | Protecting prisoners and staff from second hand smoke |
| Tobacco | Banned, treated as contraband |
| Approved vaping | Permitted, bought via canteen |
| Where vaping is allowed | Varies, for example cell or designated areas |
| Support | NRT and cessation help offered |
A few more questions
Can visitors bring vapes or tobacco in?
No. Visitors cannot bring tobacco or vapes in, and attempting to is treated seriously.
Are the vapes the same as in shops?
They are approved, often tamper resistant devices chosen for the secure environment, bought through the canteen.
Do all prisons have identical rules?
The smoke free principle is consistent, but the detail of where and how vaping is allowed is set locally.
Key things to remember
- UK prisons are smoke free
- Smoking tobacco is not allowed
- Approved vaping is permitted via the canteen
- You cannot bring your own vape or tobacco in
- Quit support including NRT is offered
Putting it simply
The clearest way to hold all this in mind is a simple pair of rules, no tobacco, but approved vaping allowed under local rules. Everything else, the canteen system, the ban on bringing items in, the quit support, follows from a smoke free policy designed to protect everyone who lives and works in the prison.
For families, the practical takeaway is that you cannot send tobacco or vapes in, and that any nicotine products are bought inside. For prisoners who smoked, the support to switch or quit is there if they want it, and many find that approved vaping makes the transition away from tobacco far more manageable than they expected.
It is a significant change from how prisons once were, but the evidence and experience since the policy came in have backed the move towards smoke free.
Can prisoners be disciplined for breaking the rules?
Yes, smoking or misusing vapes can lead to disciplinary action, including loss of privileges.
Is NRT free inside?
Cessation support including NRT is offered to help prisoners quit, while vapes are bought through the canteen.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This guide is general information about UK rules as they currently stand and is not legal advice. Laws and individual policies can change, so for the definitive position always check official guidance or the relevant operator.
Need a hand?
Browse our full library of plain English vaping guides, or get in touch with the team if you have a question we have not answered yet.