Is cheap vape juice safe?
If you’re new to vaping or you’re branching out on certain brands or products, you may be wondering if cheaper means less safe.
We all love a bargain, but arguably not at the expense of our health. However, in the UK, safety isn’t determined by the price tag. What you need to be looking out for is what’s stated on the bottle.
While there are strict rules and regulations regarding vape juice, some may slip under the radar, so it’s ALWAYS best to check the packaging beforehand. In this blog, we’ll run through what you should look out for in the ingredients, what cheap vape juice actually means, and how to avoid harmful substances.
At Juicemate, we only sell UK-compliant nicotine juice from trusted brands and verified suppliers. All of our nicotine liquids are published on the MHRA site, and each one has labels you can read at a glance.
What does “cheap” vape juice actually mean?
Vaping is less harmful than smoking, and it can help adult smokers quit, but it isn’t risk-free, and we strongly advise non-smokers to avoid vapes if they can help it.
That’s why buying from a trusted UK retailer matters. When it comes to it, there’s actually not that much difference between a £1 e-liquid and a £20 bottle; all the ingredients are the same, with some possibly being of better quality for the more costly bottles.
For example, the £20 one may include a higher quality of nicotine or vegetable glycerine. Besides that, the flavouring and the nicotine strength are the only things that can differ, as there’s a strict list of ingredients that can be added.
A lower price can actually come from a few normal market factors:
- Simple flavour sets are quicker to produce, therefore more affordable to buy.
- Plain boxes rather than fancy packaging bring the cost down.
- End-of-line flavours and seasonal clearances are often discounted.
- Larger batches and in-house brands reduce unit costs without changing the recipe.
- 0 mg shortfills aren’t part of the MHRA notification scheme for nicotine products, so they don’t come with a compliance fee.
The UK rules that keep vape juice in line
When it comes to vape juice on sale in the United Kingdom, there are specific regulations that must be followed to ensure legal compliance.
- Be no higher than 20 mg/ml (2%).
- Any refill bottle that contains nicotine must be 10 ml or less.
- Refillable tanks and pods must be 2 ml or less.
- Nicotine liquids must come in packaging that isn’t easy for children to get into.
- They must not contain any stimulants, such as caffeine and taurine or colourings for emissions.
- Come with clear labels and stated health warnings.
- Nicotine e-liquids must be notified and published by the MHRA before they can be sold.
All vape juices will include these main ingredients to produce flavours that are appetising and effective:
- Nicotine (apart from nicotine-free e-liquids)
- Propylene Glycol (PG)
- Vegetable Glycerine (VG)
- Added flavouring
As of June 1st 2025, disposable vapes are no longer legal to be sold in the UK. Now, vapes must be rechargeable or come with refillable kits and replaceable coils.
How to check if a vape juice is legit in under 60 seconds
Step 1: MHRA search
Do you want to know a useful hack? You can verify a nicotine e-liquid in under a minute by searching the MHRA ECIG published products pages.
If the e-liquid isn’t listed on this website, avoid it at all costs (it really is that simple!)
Step 2: Search by brand or ECID
Type the name of the brand or use the ECID/GBID printed on the box to check if it’s safe.
You should see a product entry with the submitter, product type, strength, and a published date. If you can’t see it listed anywhere, take that as a clear sign to avoid it.
Step 3: Match the details to your bottle
Don’t just take the box at face value. Inspect the product first to make sure that the ingredients match the ones listed on the packaging.
Verify that the nicotine strength is 20 mg/mL (2%) or less and that the form factor matches (e.g., refill container/cartridge). The label should also show a UK business name/address, batch/lot code, and product warnings.
Step 4: Know the rule for shortfills
0 mg shortfills don’t appear on the MHRA list because the notification scheme covers nicotine-containing products.
However, shortfills must still be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations, so stick with trusted UK retailers and avoid products with vague or missing labels.
Why certain additives are a no-go
Diacetyl and pentane-2,3-dione, Glycols like diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, certain metals (cadmium, lead, nickel and others), and carbonyls such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein are all harmful chemicals that SHOULD NOT be used in e-liquids.
These are all known to cause health risks, such as popcorn lung, throat irritation, difficulty breathing, and cardiovascular harm. Toxic glycols can also cause metabolic acidosis and kidney injury.
Reputable brands are obligated to minimise contaminants like metals and carbonyls through their ingredient selection, testing, and responsible device use, which is why you should always opt for trustworthy names.
What the health bodies say
The NHS states that no one under the age of 18 should be smoking vapes, or those who have never smoked cigarettes. For cigarette smokers, switching to vapes can cut exposure to many toxins found in cigarette smoke.
UK-regulated nicotine e-liquids do not use diacetyl; there are no confirmed cases of popcorn lung from UK-regulated vapes, so vapers don’t need to worry about this health risk.
Diacetyl was previously used in microwave popcorn, but research has shown that it can lead to respiratory issues and throat irritation. For this reason, it’s now banned as a UK ingredient.
If a vape liquid causes an adverse reaction, smells wrong, or looks tampered with, do not use it and report the issue via the MHRA Yellow Card website.
Buy affordable and safe vape juices with Juciemate
At Juicemate, we understand how important your health is, which is why we offer vape juices from highly reputable brands, like Hangsen, vapemate, and Elfliq.
You can enjoy great-tasting, high-quality e-liquids for prices as low as £1.99, all of which are UK-compliant. Browse a range of tantalising flavours, from juicy berries to mint, today for a refreshing hit.