Nicotine pouches can no longer be sold to under-18s in Scotland
The age limit now covers every nicotine product, including pouches, strips and pearls, and free samples of vapes and nicotine products are banned.
Shops in Scotland can no longer sell nicotine pouches, strips or pearls to anyone under 18. The ban came into force today, Thursday 29 October, and also covers herbal products that can be smoked.
Vapes were already age restricted in Scotland. The new rules extend the age limit to all nicotine products. The Scottish Government said it was acting because pouches in particular were becoming popular with young people.
Similar rules restricting sales of nicotine products, nicotine-free vapes and herbal smoking products to under-18s came into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the same day.
What changes for shoppers
- Only people aged 18 or over can buy nicotine products or herbal smoking products.
- It is an offence for an adult to buy, or try to buy, these products for someone under 18.
- Nobody may hand out free vapes, nicotine products or money-off coupons for them to members of the public.
- Vapes and nicotine products cannot be sold at a substantial discount, sometimes called nominal pricing.
- Vending machines can no longer stock nicotine or herbal smoking products.
What changes for shops
Every business that sells vapes, tobacco, nicotine or herbal smoking products in Scotland will have to be on a national register. Retailers have from 29 October 2026 to 29 April 2027 to sign up before enforcement of the registration rule starts.
The Scottish Government said that once this is in place, Scotland will be the only part of the UK with a full record of where these products are sold. Local councils will enforce the new rules.
The measures come from the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. Scotland's chief medical officer, Gregor Smith, said people who do not smoke should never start using nicotine, and that this applied especially to children and young people.
