Your Morning Vape at the Bus Stop Just Got £100 More Expensive

By HOAR Team 5 July, 2025 4 mins read 78 Views

Well, this is brilliant.

I was standing at my usual bus stop yesterday morning, watching some bloke puff away on his strawberry-flavored vape, when I realized he might soon be forking over a hundred quid for that privilege. Parliament's quietly pushing through legislation that could slap vapers with £100 fines for lighting up (or should I say, puffing up?) at bus stops. And yeah, that includes those pathetic open-air stops that barely qualify as shelter from a light drizzle.

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The Sneaky Way They're Doing This

Here's what really gets me - they've buried this whole thing inside bus service improvement legislation. Classic move, right? It's like finding out your dentist also does tax audits while you're already in the chair with your mouth full of cotton.

Transport authorities (looking at you, TfL) will get shiny new powers to issue fixed penalty notices on the spot. The fine? Up to £100, depending on how generous they're feeling that day. Don't pay up quickly enough and boom - you're looking at £1,000. For vaping at a bus stop.

My mate Dave texted me about this yesterday: "So now I can't even stress-vape while waiting for the 47 bus that's inevitably 20 minutes late?" Poor guy's got a point.

What Counts as a Bus Stop Anyway?

The really mental part? This applies to basically any bus stop - those fancy covered ones with digital displays AND those sorry excuses for stops that are literally just a pole with a sign. You know the ones I mean. The ones where you're already getting soaked, and now you can't even have a quick puff to cope with the misery.

I mean, vaping's already banned on actual buses and in proper stations, which makes sense. But bus stops? Some of these are more "outdoor suggestion" than actual enclosed space.

Politicians Being Politicians

The Tories are having a field day with this one. Kevin Hollinrake (Shadow Housing Secretary, if you're keeping track) basically accused the government of running a stealth anti-vaping campaign. His exact words about "puffed-up mayors like Sadiq Khan" made me snort my coffee this morning.

But here's the thing - this comes right after they banned disposable vapes last month. And don't even get me started on that bonkers rule about anyone born after January 2009 never being able to buy cigarettes. Ever. Like, what happens when they turn 50? Still can't buy a pack of Marlboros?

The Government's Defense (Such As It Is)

A Department for Transport spokesperson jumped in to say calling this a "stealth vaping ban" is "totally false." Right. Because burying vaping penalties in bus legislation is totally transparent.

They did throw in one tiny bone - fines should apparently be a "last resort" after warnings are ignored. So theoretically, you might get a stern talking-to before they empty your wallet. How generous.

Look, I get it. Nobody wants to stand in a cloud of someone else's mango-passion-fruit vapor while waiting for the morning commute. But £100? For standing outside with an e-cigarette?

Guess I'll be walking to work more often. At least until they figure out how to fine people for vaping on sidewalks.

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Did you miss our previous article...
https://hellofaread.com/politics/french-cops-go-full-action-movie-jet-skis-and-underwater-nets-to-stop-channel-crossings