UK under-18 ban widened to nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes from 29 October 2026

Shops and online sellers across the UK lost the option of selling nicotine-free vapes and non-medicinal nicotine products to under-18s on 29 October 2026, when the extended age-of-sale rules came into force.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced the start date that morning. The measures form part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which the government says became law six months to the day before.

Age checks now cover the whole vape and nicotine shelf

Selling nicotine-containing vapes to minors was already illegal. The 29 October change adds vape devices, e-liquids with or without nicotine, components such as coils and pods, and non-medicinal nicotine products including pouches, strips and pearls. Synthetic nicotine falls inside the same rules.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland extended their age-of-sale rules to nicotine-free vaping products for the first time, according to the DHSC. Scotland had already restricted those sales to under-18s, so for Scottish retailers the new element is the nicotine products rather than zero-nicotine devices.

Medicinally licensed products sit under separate medicines legislation and are not covered by this regime.

Adults who buy for a minor commit an offence

Anyone aged 18 or over now breaks the law by buying, or attempting to buy, a vaping or nicotine product for someone under 18. The government calls this proxy purchasing, and the offence covers nicotine-free vapes and non-medicinal nicotine products as well as nicotine-containing vapes.

The rule targets the route around a till refusal, where an adult purchase supplies a minor after the retailer has applied the age check.

Giveaways, heavy discounts, coupons and vending machines are restricted

Promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts are prohibited for vaping and nicotine products, tobacco products, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers. Giving away coupons for these products, or selling them at a substantial discount, is also caught.

The restrictions apply in shops and online, where promotion is the purpose or where the seller knows or has reason to suspect promotion will result. The DHSC states the rules are not a blanket ban on every price reduction, multibuy or loyalty scheme, and that businesses must assess individual offers.

Vending machines that sell or dispense vapes or nicotine products are banned. Local authority stop smoking services can continue providing products to help adult smokers quit.

Fines are £200 in three nations while Northern Ireland awaits assembly approval

Fixed penalty notices for relevant offences are set at £200 in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland the penalty level is subject to approval by its assembly, according to Tobacco Reporter, so the enforcement position there is not yet settled.

Trading Standards leads retail enforcement in England and gains the new fixed penalty powers. The DHSC says enforcement agencies receive up to £30 million a year until 2028 to 2029, including up to £10 million a year for Trading Standards and funding for 120 specialist apprentices.

Scottish retailers face a separate registration deadline

Scotland requires retailers that sell tobacco, vaping, nicotine and herbal smoking products to register by 29 April 2027, Tobacco Reporter reports. That obligation runs on its own timetable and does not depend on the October measures.

Haypp’s Dr Marina Murphy said the new age restrictions close a loophole that had allowed nicotine pouches to reach under-18s because they contain no tobacco and are not inhaled, according to Tobacco Reporter.

Wholesalers and online sellers carry the compliance load

Convenience stores, specialist vape shops, online retailers and distributors holding pouch, strip or zero-nicotine lines must extend age verification to the full catalogue rather than only nicotine-containing devices.

Sellers running multibuys, loyalty pricing or coupon campaigns need to test each offer against the promotion rules before it goes live. Anyone still operating vending machines for these products must stop dispensing them.

Distributors in Northern Ireland should treat the £200 penalty as unconfirmed until the assembly decides, and brief retail customers accordingly.

The next dated step is Scotland’s registration deadline of 29 April 2027. The DHSC describes the October package as part of the phased implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, so retailers should expect further provisions.

Questions readers ask

Which products can no longer be sold to under-18s in the UK?

From 29 October 2026, retailers cannot sell any vaping product or non-medicinal nicotine product to under-18s. The DHSC lists vape devices, e-liquids with or without nicotine, components such as coils and pods, nicotine pouches, strips and pearls, and products containing synthetic nicotine. Medicinally licensed products fall under separate medicines legislation.

Can an adult buy a vape for someone under 18 in the UK?

No. Anyone aged 18 or over commits an offence by buying, or attempting to buy, a vaping or nicotine product on behalf of someone under 18. The government calls this proxy purchasing. It covers nicotine-free vapes and non-medicinal nicotine products as well as nicotine-containing vapes.

What is the penalty for selling vapes to under-18s in the UK?

Retailers in England, Wales and Scotland face fixed penalty notices of £200 for relevant offences, and Trading Standards leads retail enforcement in England. Tobacco Reporter says Northern Ireland's penalty is subject to approval by its assembly, so the level there is not yet confirmed.

Are all vape discounts banned in the UK?

No. Promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts are prohibited, along with giving away coupons or selling them at a substantial discount. The DHSC states this is not a blanket ban on every price reduction, multibuy or loyalty scheme; businesses must assess individual offers.