The new tobacco laws will affect vapers when they come into force at the end of next week.

While it is widely known changes for cigarette and tobacco smokers come into effect on May 20 , those who have taken up vaping to help kick the habit will find they too will have to abide by new rules.

Smokers will find packs of 10 banned, menthol brands phased out and more graphic packaging.

For vapers, who will also be targeted by the Tobacco Products Directive, it will mean weaker liquids and smaller tanks and a whole lot more.

So what does the new law say about vaping? Here's what you need to know about the new restrictions, as reported by Chronicle Live .

Will vaping be banned?

Vaping will not be banned! But some have accused the government of doing all they can to discourage the habit without banning it outright.

That means hitting people where it hurts with new restrictions on the strength of liquids and limiting the size of tanks.

The new laws have been described as draconian and have been accused of hitting people trying to wean themselves off cigarettes .

What are the new laws then?

There are seven requirements:

1. Restrict e-cigarette tanks to a capacity of no more than 2ml.

2. Restrict the maximum volume of e-liquid for sale in one refill container to 10ml.

3. Restrict e-liquids to a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml.

4. Require nicotine-containing products or their packaging to be child-resistant and tamper evident.

5. Ban certain ingredients including colourings, caffeine and taurine.

6. Include new labelling requirements and warnings.

7. Require e-cigarettes and e-liquids be notified to heath regulators before they can be sold.

What will be the effect of all this on vapers?

Weaker strength and smaller tanks are just the start of it.

Manufacturers are concerned about the need to tell the regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, about new products coming onto the market.

They see it as an erosion of the freedom vapers have had until now.

They point out that a lot of what is now law is already carried out on a voluntary basis by reputable dealers and manufacturers.

It is argued that the cost of complying with the new laws will be passed onto vapers.

A selection of vaporizers (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Will some shops and stalls be forced to close?

That’s what the industry fears.

It has been claimed there will be a significant reduction in choice.

Manufacturers have had a year to get used to the idea but many say users are still unaware and there are some vapers on the streets who will not have a clue why their vapes are weaker and smaller on May 20.

The advice is to stock up before their favourite vapes are taken off the market.

Many will be selling their old stock right up until the moment it becomes illegal.

How will the behaviour of vapers change?

Some won’t get the same kind of strength they are used to so the expectation is that they will simply buy more of it to get the same kick.

Some companies are selling compliance kits so vapers can check if what they are using passes all the regulations.

But chatter on social media sites suggests that at least some vapers with the know-how are planning to make their own-e-juice.

Others claim they will buy from abroad on the internet and a few suggest the industry, or at the least part of it opposed to what is happening, will go underground.

How will the behaviour of retailers change?

Old stocks can be sold up to the end of May 19 but must be taken off the shelves after that.

This is what the regulator says must happen on and after May 20.

Their advice to retailers is to check with them if the products they sell have been approved.

It is up to producers to make sure they have complied with the rules to get permission to sell on to the retailer.

Does ANYONE escape?

Yes, they do.

The regulator says: “Products that do not meet the definition (such as disposable e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine and 0% nicotine e-liquids) are out of scope of the Tobacco Products Directive and do not have to meet its requirements."

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