PRODUCT WATCH ROUNDUP We’ve added new information to ASH Wales Product Watch about nicotine products that may be less familiar. Pouchless nicotine pods have a UK-facing retail listing: these small oral portions have no outer pouch and are not designed to melt. We’ve also added international examples of ultra-thin and semi-gel nicotine pouches, and updated our page on gels, creams, sprays and nasal inhalers. UK or Welsh availability has not been established for those international examples. These updates explain what the products are, what is verified and what remains uncertain. They do not establish how widely any product is used in Wales.
Act is law · new rules in force from 29th Oct 2026
Tobacco &
Vapes Act 2026
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is law, but many of the changes have not started yet. The new vape and nicotine rules in Wales are in force from 29th Oct 2026, followed by the new tobacco age-of-sale rules on 1st Jan 2027. This page tracks what is changing, when it starts and what it means in Wales.
What’s changing?
The key changes in Wales, without needing to download a guide.
What changed on 29th Oct?
From 29th Oct 2026, the under-18 sales ban extends to nicotine-free vapes and consumer nicotine products such as pouches. Adults must not buy, or try to buy, these products for under-18s.
Promotional free giveaways and substantial promotional discounts are also restricted. This is not a ban on normal discounts.
What was already against the law?
It is already illegal to sell nicotine vapes to anyone under 18, or for an adult to buy or try to buy them for someone under 18. The October change extends those rules to more products.
What changes later?
From 1st Jan 2027, shops must not sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1st Jan 2009. This birth-date rule does not apply to vapes.
Read more about the changes, including vending-machine rules
What happens next?
Confirmed dates from official guidance, plus the planned advertising and sponsorship commencement date.
Now in force: new vape & nicotine rules
Selling nicotine-free vapes and consumer nicotine products such as pouches to under-18s is now illegal. Adults must not buy, or try to buy, these products for under-18s. New restrictions on promotional giveaways, substantial promotional discounts and vending machines also apply. New £200 fixed penalties can be used for a range of offences.
Smoke-Free Generation
Anyone born on or after 1st Jan 2009 cannot legally be sold tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers.
Advertising & sponsorship
A wider UK ban on advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products is planned from this date.
Planned dateWhat changes?
Tobacco
A smoke-free generation
From 1st Jan 2027, anyone born on or after 1st Jan 2009 cannot legally be sold tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers. The date stays fixed, so the minimum age for buying tobacco rises over time.
Under-18s
Stronger rules for vapes & nicotine products
From 29th Oct 2026, the under-18 sales ban extends to nicotine-free vapes and consumer nicotine products such as pouches. Adults cannot buy, or try to buy, these products for someone under 18. These rules already apply to nicotine vapes.
Enforcement
More tools to tackle illegal sales
Trading Standards in Wales can issue £200 fixed penalties for a range of vape and nicotine offences from 29th Oct 2026. More serious cases can still lead to prosecution.
Retail
Vending machines
From 29th Oct 2026, vending machines that sell or dispense tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers, vaping products or nicotine products are banned. A limited exemption allows vape vending machines in certain adult mental health inpatient settings in Wales.
What is decided - and what is still to come in Wales.
Some rules have confirmed start dates. Other Welsh measures need consultation, regulations or a commencement decision before they can take effect.
Retail licensing
Wales can introduce a licence system for shops selling tobacco, vapes and nicotine products. No start date has been set. Welsh Ministers must consult on the details before a scheme begins.
Vape-free & heated tobacco-free places
Welsh Ministers can introduce restrictions in places and vehicles that are already smoke-free. These rules do not start automatically.
Closed consultation · ended 2nd Oct 2026
Packaging, appearance & shop displays
A UK-wide consultation sought views on packaging, device appearance, flavour descriptions and retail displays for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. It closed on 2nd Oct 2026. The proposals are not new rules in force.
Read the closed consultation
2nd Oct
2026 · closed
Your questions about the new tobacco and vape rules
These answers explain the position in Wales. The changes do not all start on the same day.
Wasn’t it already illegal to sell vapes to under-18s?
Yes — selling nicotine-containing vapes to under-18s was already illegal in Wales. From 29 October 2026, the restriction also covers nicotine-free vaping products and consumer nicotine products such as tobacco-free nicotine pouches. It applies online as well as in shops. Medicinal products and medical devices are treated separately. Welsh Government guidance.
Can a parent or another adult buy a vape for someone under 18?
No — for the vaping and consumer nicotine products covered by these rules. An adult must not buy, or try to buy, them on behalf of someone under 18. This includes nicotine-free vapes and tobacco-free nicotine pouches. Being a parent does not provide an exception. Tobacco and Vapes Act, section 11.
Are nicotine pouches banned?
The October change is not a blanket ban on tobacco-free nicotine pouches. It makes their sale to under-18s illegal and brings them within the new purchasing and promotion restrictions. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are different from oral tobacco products such as snus. Welsh Government vape and nicotine guidance.
I was born in 2009. Will the same rule apply to cigarettes and vapes?
No. From 1 January 2027, retailers must not sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 — including after they turn 18. The cut-off date stays fixed. People born before that date are not included in this new birth-date restriction. Welsh Government tobacco guidance.
Vapes and non-medicinal nicotine products have a different rule: the age of sale is 18. The tobacco birth-date restriction does not apply to them. UK Government explanation.
I use a refillable vape. Is it being banned?
No — the new rules do not ban adults from buying compliant reusable vapes. The separate single-use vape ban has applied in Wales since 1 June 2025. A charging port alone does not make a vape reusable. To qualify, a vape must be rechargeable and refillable and, if it has a coil, the coil must be replaceable. Official definitions. Read our guide to the single-use ban.
The October changes do affect how vaping products can be sold and promoted. There is also a separate duty on vaping liquid, explained below. Official guidance on adult access.
Are all vape discounts now illegal?
No. The rules prohibit promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts, including certain coupon offers. They do not ban every ordinary price reduction, multibuy or loyalty scheme. Whether an offer is lawful depends on its details; calling it a clearance sale does not automatically make it allowed. UK Government explanation.
Is the new vape tax part of the 29 October change?
No. Vaping Products Duty is a separate change that began on 1 October 2026. The duty is £2.20 per 10ml and covers vaping liquid with or without nicotine. Whether businesses pass that cost on to customers is a commercial decision, so it is not a fixed increase in every shop price. HMRC explanation.
Have vape flavours and shop displays already been banned?
The 29 October rules do not introduce a blanket ban on vape flavours. Proposals on packaging, device appearance, flavour descriptions and shop displays were consulted on separately. That consultation closed on 2 October 2026; its proposals are not automatically rules in force. Further regulations are needed before new requirements apply. Welsh Government consultation status and UK consultation detail.
Need the full picture? See the rules currently applying in Wales or use the timetable on this page for the next changes.
For questions about vaping in cars and under-18 possession or use, see our current-laws guide.
Read more about the changes, including vending-machine rules
Official guidance & legislation
Use these links for the current legal position. This tracker will be updated when new commencement dates, Welsh regulations or official guidance are published.
Keep the message simple.
If you are talking about the Act with staff, communities, schools, retailers or the public, these are the points worth repeating.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act is now law.
We are no longer talking about a Bill.
The new vape and nicotine rules are in force from 29th Oct 2026.
The new tobacco age-of-sale system follows on 1st Jan 2027.
Some Welsh measures are not in place yet.
Retail licensing and new vape-free restrictions still need Welsh decisions.
Suspected illegal and underage sales can be reported.
No Ifs. No Butts. allows people to report concerns anonymously.
What can you do now?
Optional partner PDF
Our four-page September 2026 guide gives background for colleagues and partners. Its consultation information is out of date: the consultation closed on 2nd Oct 2026. Use this page and the official guidance for current information.
Download September 2026 PDFReport illegal or underage sales
Seen suspected illegal tobacco or vape sales, including sales to children or young people? Concerns can be reported anonymously through No Ifs. No Butts.
Report a concernNeed the rules that apply now?
Use our plain-English Wales guide for the current legal position, then come back here for the Act timetable and upcoming changes.
Current laws in Wales