What Nicotine Strengths Are Allowed In Ireland And How Do You Choose The Right One
Choosing a nicotine strength sounds simple at first. You look at a number, pick what feels sensible, and move on. In reality, it is one of the most common reasons people feel uncomfortable when vaping or give up and return to cigarettes.
Part of the confusion comes from legality. Part comes from device choice. And part of it is that nicotine affects people differently. Someone can happily use a strength that makes another person feel dizzy within minutes.
So let’s slow it down and explain it properly. First, what is actually allowed in Ireland. Then how to choose a strength that suits you, not your neighbour, not a forum comment, and not the label alone.
What Nicotine Strengths Are Legal In Ireland
In Ireland, nicotine containing vape liquids are regulated under EU tobacco laws. For everyday consumer products, the maximum nicotine strength that can be legally sold is 20 milligrams per millilitre.
That is the ceiling. Nothing sold legally for vaping should exceed that strength.
This is why most Irish vape shops and online stores stock liquids in familiar ranges like 3 mg, 6 mg, 10 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg, and 20 mg. You might also see bottles marked as 2 percent, which is simply another way of saying 20 mg.
There are also size limits that influence how products are sold.
Nicotine containing liquids are sold in bottles no larger than 10 ml. Vape tanks and pods are limited to 2 ml capacity. That is the reason you see shortfill bottles with separate nicotine shots. The flavour comes without nicotine, and the nicotine is added separately so the final liquid still stays within the legal limit.
If you ever see products claiming much higher strengths for normal consumer vaping, they are either mislabelled or not compliant with Irish regulations. That is why buying from established Irish retailers matters more than people realise.
The Nicotine Strengths Most People Actually Use
Although the legal range goes up to 20 mg, most people settle into one of a few common zones.
0 mg is used by people who enjoy vaping purely for flavour or habit, often after they have fully moved away from nicotine.
3 mg to 6 mg is common with higher vapour devices. These liquids are mild in nicotine terms but can still satisfy because the device produces more vapour per puff.
10 mg to 12 mg is a popular middle ground, especially for pod systems and mouth to lung vaping.
18 mg to 20 mg sits at the top end and is often chosen by heavier smokers who want something that feels close to the nicotine delivery of cigarettes.
On paper, that looks simple. In practice, choosing between those numbers depends on more than people expect.
Why Nicotine Strength Is Not Just A Number
Nicotine strength is not like choosing shoe size. Two people with similar smoking habits can need very different strengths depending on how they vape.
Four things matter most.
- Your smoking history
- Your device type
- The kind of nicotine in the liquid
- Your vaping style
Ignoring even one of these can lead to the wrong choice.
Start With How You Used To Smoke
Your past smoking habits are the best starting point.
If you were a light smoker, maybe a few cigarettes a day or social smoking, starting very high often feels unpleasant. These users usually feel more comfortable at lower strengths, especially in pod systems.
If you were a steady smoker, perhaps half a pack a day, mid range strengths often work well, but device choice becomes important.
If you were a heavy smoker, especially if you smoked soon after waking or under stress, higher strengths exist for a reason. Starting too low can leave you unsatisfied and constantly craving.
This is where people sometimes make a mistake. They choose a low strength because it sounds healthier, then end up vaping constantly and still thinking about cigarettes. That usually means the strength is too low, not that vaping does not work for them.
Device Choice Changes Everything
This is one of the biggest sources of confusion.
A small pod device used mouth to lung produces less vapour per puff. Because of that, people often use higher nicotine strengths with these devices. The delivery is slower and more controlled.
A larger or more powerful device produces more vapour with each inhale. Using high nicotine strengths with these devices can feel overwhelming very quickly. That is why people using these setups often drop to 3 mg or 6 mg.
So when someone says a strength feels perfect for them, that information only makes sense if you also know what device they are using.
Nicotine Salts And Freebase Nicotine Explained Simply
Most liquids fall into one of two categories.
Freebase nicotine is the traditional form. At higher strengths it can feel harsh on the throat. Some people like that sensation because it reminds them of smoking.
Nicotine salts are smoother at higher strengths. They are commonly used in pod systems and make 10 mg to 20 mg liquids more comfortable to vape.
If you try a higher strength and it feels scratchy or irritating, it does not always mean the strength is wrong. Sometimes it simply means the nicotine type is not suited to you.
A Practical Way To Choose Your First Strength
If you want a simple approach that works for most people, follow this.
First, decide on your device.
If you are using a pod or mouth to lung setup, consider 10 mg or 20 mg depending on how much you smoked.
If you are using a higher vapour device, consider 3 mg or 6 mg.
Second, listen to your body rather than the label.
If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or uncomfortable, the strength is probably too high.
If you cannot stop thinking about cigarettes, especially after meals or stress, the strength is probably too low.
Third, give it time.
The first day without cigarettes can feel strange no matter what strength you choose. Give yourself a couple of days before making a judgement.
Signs You Chose Too High A Strength
Too much nicotine usually makes itself known quite clearly.
- You might feel lightheaded.
- You might feel sick or get a headache.
- Your heart may feel like it is racing.
- You might start vaping less because it feels unpleasant.
If that happens, dropping down a level usually solves it quickly.
Signs You Chose Too Low A Strength
Too little nicotine can be just as frustrating.
- You keep vaping but never feel satisfied.
- Cravings for cigarettes keep breaking through.
- You feel restless or irritable.
- You end up vaping far more often than expected.
In that case, increasing the strength slightly often makes vaping feel calmer and more controlled.
Real World Examples
Someone who smoked only on nights out buys a pod and chooses 20 mg because it is common. After a few puffs they feel dizzy and uncomfortable. Dropping to 6 mg or 10 mg makes the experience far more enjoyable.
Someone who smoked heavily switches to vaping and chooses 3 mg because it sounds mild. They find themselves constantly vaping and still craving cigarettes. Moving up to 10 mg or 20 mg in a pod device often makes the transition far smoother.
Someone buys a powerful device and uses 18 mg because they used to smoke. The vapour delivers nicotine too quickly and feels overwhelming. Dropping to 3 mg transforms the experience.
Should You Reduce Nicotine Over Time
Some people do. Some people do not. There is no rule that says you must.
Many vapers naturally reduce once cigarettes are no longer tempting. Others are happy staying at the same strength for years.
If you want to step down, do it slowly. Reducing too fast often brings cravings back, which defeats the point.
Think of nicotine strength like support. Use what you need, for as long as you need it.
A Final Safety Note
Nicotine is addictive and should not be used by children or non smokers. Keep liquids stored safely and treat them with the same care you would any adult product.
If you have medical concerns, are pregnant, or have been advised to avoid nicotine, it is always best to speak with a healthcare professional.
Final Thoughts
In Ireland, the highest legal nicotine strength for consumer vape liquids is 20 mg per millilitre. That limit exists to help smokers transition while keeping products regulated.
Choosing the right strength is about matching your past smoking habits to your device, your liquid type, and how you actually vape day to day. Start sensible, pay attention to how you feel, and adjust without pressure. When the strength is right, vaping feels calmer, more satisfying, and far less like a constant battle.