Signal: Market / policy · Evidence: Confirmed · Scope: UK · Family: Oral nicotine

Date: 30 September 2026

What are they?

UK Government guidance describes nicotine strips as dissolvable films placed on the tongue or between the gum and lip, and nicotine pearls as small dissolvable balls that dissolve under the tongue.

What changes from 29 October 2026?

From 29 October 2026, the age of sale for vaping and nicotine products will be 18 and over across the UK. The guidance explicitly includes nicotine strips and pearls among the nicotine products in scope. Related rules also cover proxy purchasing, promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts.

What we do not know

Official recognition of these product formats does not tell us how common they are among young people. We do not have a reliable Wales-wide under-18 prevalence estimate for nicotine strips or pearls.

Sources

• Welsh Government: Selling vaping and nicotine products
• UK Government: Selling vaping and nicotine products

Read the ASH Wales guide to strips, pearls and new nicotine products