RESEARCH ALERT
Some vapes use added chemicals to create a cold or icy feeling. New research has raised concerns about three of them: WS-23, WS-3 and WS-5. We do not yet know how common they are in Wales.
New & emerging products / New nicotine products
Nicotine strips, pearls, toothpicks & other products
Nicotine products and vape devices are changing fast. Some are tiny and discreet. Others look more like gadgets, toys or everyday objects than traditional nicotine products. This page helps parents, schools and young people recognise what is appearing on the UK market – without assuming every new product is already common in Wales.
Last reviewed: 28th September 2026
QUICK ANSWER
New nicotine products do not always look like nicotine products.
UK guidance already names nicotine strips and nicotine pearls as consumer nicotine products, and the current UK consultation on vape appearance highlights digital screens, games and devices made to resemble objects such as game devices, highlighter pens and refillable water bottles.
Important: a product being sold or appearing in official guidance does not tell us how common it is among young people in Wales. We separate confirmed market signals from evidence about actual use.
What parents and schools may start seeing
Nicotine strips
Confirmed UK product category. Thin films containing nicotine that dissolve on the tongue or between the gum and lip. Small size and minimal packaging can make them easy to miss.
Nicotine pearls
Confirmed UK product category. Small dissolvable nicotine balls designed to dissolve under the tongue. They can look very different from a cigarette, vape or pouch.
Nicotine toothpicks
Watch item. Nicotine-infused toothpicks are being sold by UK-facing retailers. They look much closer to an everyday object than a conventional nicotine product. We have not identified reliable evidence showing how common they are among young people in Wales.
Smart vapes with screens & apps
Confirmed UK market. Some vape devices now include colour screens, puff counters, usage tracking, Bluetooth or app connectivity, device controls and location-style features. A screen does not automatically make a device illegal – but it changes what a vape can look and feel like.
Vapes that imitate everyday objects
Current regulatory concern. The UK Government says vapes can imitate products such as game devices, highlighter pens and refillable water bottles. That can make them harder to recognise in schools and at home.
Post-disposable ‘lookalike’ devices
Market shift after the 2025 disposable-vape ban. Government consultation material notes that newer reusable products have come to market that can look very similar to the single-use devices that were banned. Rechargeable does not necessarily mean visually obvious or easy to identify.
Why are nicotine products becoming harder to recognise?
The market is moving in two directions at once. Some nicotine products are becoming smaller and more discreet, such as strips, pearls and toothpicks. Some vape devices are becoming more like consumer electronics, with screens, settings, tracking and app-style features.
Design matters because a product can be easier to carry, easier to conceal or simply look less like a traditional nicotine product. That is one reason the UK Government is currently consulting on restricting vape appearance, digital screens and devices that imitate other objects.
Smart vapes: what features are appearing?
UK-market devices now exist with features more commonly associated with consumer tech. Examples include:
- digital or colour screens
- puff counters and usage tracking
- Bluetooth or app connectivity
- device-lock functions
- battery, liquid-level and nicotine-strength displays
- customisable power or vapour settings
- location or “find my device” functions
The 2026 UK consultation specifically raises concerns about screens displaying images, video or games and proposes limiting screens to safety and status information. We should track these features without assuming they are widely used by young people in Wales.
If you find something you do not recognise
- Look for the product name and nicotine strength. Do not rely on shape alone.
- Check whether it is a vape, an oral nicotine product or something else. Screens and gadget-like controls do not change the fact that a device may deliver nicotine.
- Do not taste, open or dismantle an unfamiliar product to work out what it is.
- Take note of names and packaging. New brands and product terms can help identify what is changing locally.
- If someone becomes unwell after using or swallowing a product, seek medical advice. Call 999 for severe symptoms, loss of consciousness or breathing difficulties.
Keep exploring
Nicotine pouches
Pouches are now established enough to have their own guide, including how they differ from snus.
Emerging product alerts
Our dated watchlist for new products, market changes, regulatory signals and evidence gaps.
New & emerging products hub
Go back to the wider hub for the full set of emerging nicotine, vape and related product guides.