Skip to content

Dissolvable nicotine tablets (‘melts’)

Signal: Product / market · Evidence: Confirmed UK market · Scope: UK · Family: Oral nicotine

Date checked: 30 September 2026

What is being seen?

A new consumer oral nicotine format is now being sold in the UK: a small nicotine tablet that is placed between the upper lip and gum and dissolves completely during use.

One current example is ZYN Melts, which the manufacturer describes as a tobacco-free dissolvable nicotine tablet. The UK range is advertised in 1 mg and 2 mg strengths and mint flavours. The product is not presented as a stop-smoking medicine or cessation aid.

Why this is on our radar

This is distinct from a nicotine pouch because there is no pouch to remove and dispose of. It also shows how consumer oral nicotine products are moving beyond pouches, strips and pearls into additional discreet formats.

What we do not know

UK availability does not tell us how common use is. We do not have a representative Wales-wide estimate for use of dissolvable nicotine tablets among young people.

Sources

Share this story

Writing about this issue?

Journalists can use the ASH Wales Media Centre for Wales-specific data, background and spokesperson requests.

More from ASH Wales

‘Nicotine-free’ and 0% vapes containing nicotine

SAFETY / COMPLIANCE ALERT
UK Trading Standards testing found nicotine in some vapes sold as nicotine-free. A 0% or nicotine-free label should not be treated as proof of contents.

Future nicotine formats: gels, creams and nasal inhalers

PRODUCT WATCH
Official explanatory notes identify gels, creams, cheek absorption and nasal inhalers as plausible future consumer nicotine delivery routes. This is a foresight signal, not evidence that these products are established in Wales.

Caffeine and energy pouches

PRODUCT WATCH
Nicotine-free caffeine pouches are being sold in the UK in the same under-the-lip format as nicotine pouches, including products containing high doses of caffeine.