Nicotine Pouches in United Kingdom
- Status
- Regulated
- Sale banned
- No
- Minimum age
- 18 years
- Nicotine cap
- Not established
- Regulated since
- —
- Last reviewed
- 24 August 2026
Covers England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales.
The United Kingdom brought nicotine pouches inside statute for the first time with the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (c. 18), which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.
Section 10 makes it an offence to sell a nicotine product to a person under 18. Section 11 makes it an offence for an adult to buy one on a child's behalf.
The age limit is not yet in force. Section 175 brings Parts 1 to 4 into force six months after the Act was passed, which is 29 October 2026. Until then there is no statutory age of sale for pouches in the UK.
The Act also takes powers over product requirements and advertising, to be exercised by regulations later.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are shown as one shape here because the world map has one United Kingdom outline. Parts of the Act commence separately in each nation.
What is restricted
- Advertising: Yes
- Minimum age: Yes
- Sale: Yes
How it is classified
- Nicotine product