New vape and nicotine pouch rules from 29 October: what changes
Only got a minute?
- The date is 29 October 2026. The new rules come from the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and will apply across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Vaping and nicotine products become 18+ by law across the board. From 29 October that includes nicotine-free e-liquid and devices in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus nicotine pouches, strips and pearls everywhere in the UK.
- Buying for an under-18 becomes an offence. It applies to vaping and nicotine products across the UK.
- Free samples and promotional giveaways end on 29 October. So do substantial discounts used to promote these products.
- For adult buyers, very little changes day to day. The 29 October rules do not change nicotine limits, bottle sizes or which products can be sold to adults.
What changes on 29 October
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. It mostly grants powers, which the government switches on in stages. The next stage lands on 29 October 2026, and the Department of Health and Social Care has published guidance on GOV.UK, called Selling vaping and nicotine products, that sets out exactly what it means.
There are four changes in that guidance: the age of sale of 18 will be extended to all vaping products, including nicotine-free ones, and to nicotine products; buying for under-18s will become an offence; and giving products away, or selling them at a substantial discount, to promote them will also become offences.
The changes are about who can buy and how products can be promoted. If you want the bigger picture first, including the disposable ban and the new duty, our guide to UK vape laws covers the rules already in force.
29 Oct
the date the new retail rules take effect
18+
legal age from 29 October for vaping and nicotine products, 0mg included
4
nations covered: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Who the new age limit covers
GOV.UK says that from 29 October 2026 it will be an offence for retailers, including online retailers, to sell any vaping product or nicotine product to anyone under 18. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the guidance says this will replace the current restriction, which only applies to nicotine vaping products. Scotland already restricted nicotine and non-nicotine vapes, and will add nicotine products such as pouches on the same date.
The guidance lists what counts. Vaping products include devices such as vape pens, substances to be vaped such as e-liquid, and components such as coils and pods. Nicotine products include nicotine pouches, nicotine strips and nicotine pearls, and every type of nicotine is in scope, including synthetic nicotine made in a lab. Batteries, chargers and leads are outside the age-of-sale rules because other safety law covers them, and so are medicines and medical devices.
| Product | England, Wales and NI until 28 October | Whole UK from 29 October |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine e-liquid and vape kits | 18+ by law | 18+ by law (no change) |
| 0mg shortfills and nicotine-free vapes | Not covered by the current nicotine-only rule | 18+ by law |
| Nicotine pouches, strips and pearls | Not covered by the current nicotine-only rule | 18+ by law |
| Batteries, chargers and leads | Covered by other safety law | Outside the age-of-sale rules |
For us, the headline is simple. We do not sell any vaping product, including 0mg, to anyone under 18, and the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 extends the legal age-of-sale rules to nicotine-free vapes. From 29 October 2026 the same legal age will apply whether you buy from us, a supermarket or a corner shop.
Buying for someone under 18 becomes an offence
The second change is about proxy purchasing. From 29 October 2026, GOV.UK says it will be an offence for anyone aged 18 or over to buy, or try to buy, a vaping or nicotine product for someone under 18. Scotland already had this offence for vapes and is extending it to nicotine products.
The detail worth knowing is who commits the offence: according to the guidance, it is the adult buyer, not the seller. Buying a 0mg shortfill or a can of pouches for a younger brother, sister or friend under 18 will be an offence even if the shop did everything right. Shops are expected to train staff to spot proxy sales and refuse them when they suspect one.
Online, the practical effect is that a retailer must be satisfied the customer is 18 or over before making a sale, and the guidance says customers may be asked for ID. GOV.UK also says regulations setting out the exact age verification steps for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are still to come, and the guidance will be updated when they are.
Free samples, giveaways and big discounts
The third and fourth changes cover promotion. GOV.UK says that from 29 October 2026 it will be an offence to give away any vaping or nicotine product, or a coupon, to a member of the public where the purpose or effect is to promote these products. The guidance defines a coupon as anything that can be redeemed for a product, service, cash or other benefit, in physical or electronic form, including an emailed code.
It applies in shops, online and through third parties. The guidance gives free refillable pods and free samples as examples, and says items that promote vaping or nicotine products, such as branded chargers given away as promotions, are covered too. Selling vaping or nicotine products at a substantial discount to promote them also becomes an offence. GOV.UK describes a substantial discount as one that significantly lowers the price compared with its standard selling price, and gives selling e-liquid or devices for a nominal sum as a likely example.
Ends on 29 October
Free samples, free promotional pods or pouches, branded freebies that promote vaping, and substantial discounts used to promote these products.
Carries on
Normal discounting. GOV.UK says retailers can still sell unsold stock at a reduced price, and bulk and trade discounts may still apply.
Existing advertising and promotion rules still apply on top.
What stays exactly the same
Several rules stay as they are on 29 October. These are already in place and carry on as before:
- Nicotine limits. Nicotine e-liquid bottles can be up to 10ml at up to 20mg/ml, and pods and tanks hold up to 2ml. Bottles of 100ml and larger are 0mg shortfills only.
- Disposables. Single-use disposable vapes have been banned in the UK since 1 June 2025. Prefilled pod kits with a rechargeable battery remain the legal grab-and-go option.
- Flavours. No flavour ban is in force, and nothing about flavours changes on 29 October.
- Duty. Vaping Products Duty has applied since 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml, or £2.64 with VAT, the same per ml on every format. Our vape tax guide and the duty by bottle size chart explain the maths. Pre-duty stock can be sold until 31 March 2027.
- Nicotine pouch strengths. Pouches sit outside the TRPR e-liquid rules and have no statutory nicotine cap today; the Act gives ministers the power to set one.
Nicotine pouches and strips we stock
Everything below is 18+ and listed in our pouches and strips range.
Zyn Nicotine Pouches. The widest strength spread of the four, listed from 1.5mg up to 13.5mg, in Mini and Regular formats. Each can holds 20 or 21 pouches depending on the size, and the flavours listed run from Cool Mint and Spearmint to Black Cherry, Citrus and Coffee.
Velo Nicotine Pouches. Listed in 6mg, 8mg, 10mg, 11mg, 14mg and 17mg, with flavours including Bright Spearmint, Cherry Ice, Tangy Lime and Smooth Papaya.
Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouches. Four clear steps: Regular 6mg, Strong 9mg, Extra Strong 11mg and Max 17mg. Mint, Spearmint and Sweet Mint sit alongside fruit options such as Zesty Pear, Melon Fresh and Forest Berries.
Airplane Mode Nicotine Film by Lost Mary. A tobacco-free nicotine strip rather than a pouch. It sits between the upper lip and gum and dissolves. It comes in 2mg, 20 strips to a pack. Mango, Mint, Mix Berries and Strawberry are listed; check the product page for current flavour stock.
| Product | Format | Strengths listed |
|---|---|---|
| Zyn | Pouch, Mini and Regular | 1.5mg to 13.5mg |
| Velo | Pouch | 6mg to 17mg |
| Nordic Spirit | Pouch | 6mg, 9mg, 11mg, 17mg |
| Airplane Mode film | Dissolving strip | 2mg |
If you are weighing pouches against a vape, our vaping vs nicotine pouches guide sets out how the two compare. Nicotine is addictive, whichever format you choose.
0mg shortfills and nic shots
Nothing changes about how shortfills are made up. A shortfill is a large bottle of 0mg liquid with space left at the top. You can vape it as it is or add nic shots, which are 10ml bottles of nicotine, to bring it to the strength you want. Our guide on mixing nic shots into e-liquid walks through it.
A good example is Raspberry Cola 100ml by Kingston: 100ml of 0mg liquid in a 120ml bottle, a 30/70 PG/VG blend, with room for two 10ml nic shots, which the product page says takes it to about 3mg. As a 70% VG blend, it generally suits sub-ohm coils below about 0.6 ohm rather than a tight pod kit. You’ll find the rest of the range under Kingston E-Liquid and across our shortfills range.
Not sure whether a shortfill or a ready-made 10ml bottle suits you better? Our shortfill vs 10ml guide compares them, and our 10ml e-liquids include 50/50 blends for pod kits.
What it means when you order
If you are an adult who already buys from us, the main things to know after 29 October are below.
- 1
Order only if you are 18+. You must be 18+ to order from E-Cig Clouds.
- 2
Expect ID questions now and then. GOV.UK says retailers must be satisfied a customer is 18 or over and may ask for ID.
- 3
Never buy for under-18s. See the proxy rule above: it applies to every vaping and nicotine product.
18+ only
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Quick answers
When do the new vape rules start?
On 29 October 2026. GOV.UK guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care sets that date for the new age-of-sale, proxy purchase, free distribution and substantial discount rules.
Can under-18s buy 0mg vapes after 29 October?
No. GOV.UK says it will be an offence to sell any vaping product to anyone under 18, and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that will replace the current rule, which only covers nicotine vaping products.
Is there an age limit on nicotine pouches?
From 29 October 2026 there will be a legal age of sale of 18 for nicotine pouches, strips and pearls across the UK. We do not sell them to anyone under 18.
Are sale prices and bulk discounts being banned?
No. The new offence is for substantial discounts that promote these products. GOV.UK says normal discounting is not affected, unsold stock can still be sold at a reduced price, and bulk and trade discounts may still apply.
Do nicotine strengths or bottle sizes change on 29 October?
No. The 29 October rules are about who can buy and how products are promoted; the limits on nicotine strength and bottle size, and the duty rates listed above, carry on unchanged.
