By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Disposables targeted: The Cayman Islands to ban disposable vapes.
• Under-18 sales: The bill would prohibit nicotine product sales to minors.
• Public use: Existing smoke-free rules would be extended to vaping.

The Cayman Islands is moving to remove disposable vapes from the market.

The government has published a proposed law that would ban disposable vaping products, prohibit the sale of nicotine products to anyone under 18, and extend existing public smoking restrictions to vaping as part of a broader overhaul of the islands’ tobacco laws.

The Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026 would prohibit the importation, manufacture, packaging, labeling, sale, advertising, and promotion of disposable vaping products, effectively removing the category from the Cayman Islands market if Parliament adopts the legislation as drafted.

The bill would also prohibit minors from using nicotine products and make it illegal to sell them to anyone under 18, according to a government release.

The government said the changes are intended to provide greater protection for public health, with a particular focus on reducing nicotine use among children and young people.

Violations could result in substantial penalties.

Under the draft, a person convicted of an offense could face a fine of up to CI$15,000 (US$18,000) for a first offense. Subsequent offenses could result in fines of up to CI$30,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

The proposal would also place vaping under many of the same restrictions that currently apply to smoking.

Vaping would be prohibited inside a public building or within 10 feet of it, and businesses and other establishments would be able to display “no vaping” notices alongside existing “no smoking” signs.

The proposed legislation would amend the Tobacco Act, 2008, which forms the basis for the territory’s existing tobacco controls.

The changes would not prohibit all vaping products. Based on the published proposal, the product ban specifically targets disposable vaping products, while the broader provisions regulate youth access and where vaping is permitted.

The government will open a formal 28-day public consultation on Aug. 21 before proceeding with the legislation. Public meetings on the tobacco proposal and other health initiatives are also scheduled for Aug. 26 in West Bay and Aug. 27 in George Town.