From 1 October 2026, a new UK Vaping Products Duty begins and duty stamps start appearing on retail vape packaging. Here’s what the change means in Wales — and what it does not tell you about a product.
Information / Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches: what you need to know
Small, discreet and tobacco-free does not mean harmless. Nicotine pouches deliver nicotine through the lining of the mouth and can cause dependence.
Wales evidence status: there is no official national Wales prevalence estimate for nicotine-pouch use. However, published ASH Wales/YouGov polling from 2025 found that 10% of Welsh adults aged 18–24 said they had ever tried nicotine pouches. “Ever tried” does not mean current or regular use, so it should not be presented as “one in ten young adults use nicotine pouches”.
Last reviewed: 27th September 2026
QUICK ANSWER
No tobacco. Still nicotine.
Nicotine pouches do not involve smoking or vaping, but they can deliver a pharmacologically active dose of nicotine. Long-term health effects are still not well understood.
What are nicotine pouches?
Nicotine pouches are small sachets placed between the lip and gum. Nicotine is released into saliva and absorbed through the lining of the mouth.
Products vary in flavour, size and nicotine strength. The amount of nicotine absorbed can also vary between products and between users.
Nicotine pouch or snus?
Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco.
Snus contains tobacco. Snus and similar oral tobacco products have been banned from sale in the UK for decades.
The products can look similar, so packaging matters more than appearance alone.
What do we know about use in Wales?
ASH Wales/YouGov polling published in 2025 found that 10% of Welsh adults aged 18–24 reported having tried nicotine pouches.
This was an ever-use question. It does not tell us how many people use pouches now, how often they use them or whether use is regular. The finding comes from charity-commissioned polling rather than an official national prevalence survey.
What do we know about the health risks?
The honest answer is that the evidence is still developing. That is different from saying there is no risk.
Nicotine can cause dependence
Pouches deliver nicotine without smoke, but nicotine is addictive. Some products can deliver substantial amounts of nicotine.
Long-term effects are uncertain
The UK Committee on Toxicity has identified major gaps in long-term human evidence, particularly for higher-strength products and prolonged exposure inside the mouth.
Using several nicotine products can add up
Using pouches alongside cigarettes, vapes or other nicotine products can increase and prolong nicotine exposure compared with relying on one source.
Are nicotine pouches a stop-smoking treatment?
Not in the UK. Nicotine pouches are not licensed stop-smoking products and are not currently recommended by NICE for smoking cessation.
The NHS says there is not yet enough independent evidence on how safe they are in the short or long term, or how well they help people quit smoking.
If your goal is to stop smoking, established options such as licensed NRT, stop-smoking medicines and vaping for adults who smoke have a stronger evidence base.
If you smoke now
The biggest health gain comes from stopping cigarettes. You do not need to choose a quit aid before asking for help.
Help Me Quit can talk through NRT, medicines, vaping and support with you.
Young people and nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches can be small, discreet and easy to use without smoke or vapour. That can make them harder for adults to notice.
Young people who do not use nicotine should not start. Nicotine can create dependence, and the Committee on Toxicity has highlighted accidental exposure in children as a safety concern.
Keep nicotine products out of reach of children.
Found a tub or pouch?
Our Parent Support guide shows common nicotine products, what the packaging may tell you and how to start a conversation without turning it into an interrogation.
The law is changing on 29th October 2026
Nicotine pouches are included in the new rules for nicotine products.
18+ age of sale
From 29th October 2026, it will be an offence to sell nicotine pouches or other nicotine products to anyone under 18.
Adults will also be prohibited from buying or attempting to buy these products on behalf of someone under 18.
Promotions and vending machines
From the same date, promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts for nicotine products will be restricted, and vending machines selling nicotine products will be banned.
Concerned about underage or illegal sales?
You do not need proof and you should not investigate or confront a seller. Share what you know anonymously through No Ifs. No Butts.
Using nicotine and want to change that?
If you also smoke, stopping cigarettes is the priority. If pouches are your only nicotine product and you want to cut down or stop, a pharmacist or healthcare professional can help you think through dependence and cravings.