Retailers Urged to Stay Ahead of Law as Nicotine Pouch Sales to Children Raise Alarm
Following the recent ban on single-use vapes, Trading Standards has warned that many retailers are now turning to colourful, sweet-flavoured nicotine pouches—often prominently displayed and marketed in ways that appeal to young people.
Commonly known as “snus,” these pouches resemble small tea bags and deliver nicotine through the gums. Despite their similarity to regulated nicotine products, Trading Standards said the pouches currently “fall between the gap” of regulation of either a tobacco or a nicotine product, meaning shops can legally sell them to a child of any age.
This legal loophole has led to growing concern from parents, teachers, and health bodies, especially as these products are discreet, hard to detect, and increasingly popular among school-aged children.
The government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, aims to close this gap. The Bill would ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s, restrict child-appealing flavours and packaging, and introduce rules about where these products can be placed in shops.
Trading Standards and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) are calling for the Bill to be prioritised in Parliament, amid growing reports of shops targeting children with these addictive products.
At Serve Legal, we urge all retailers to stay informed and vigilant. It’s essential to prepare for the upcoming changes by reviewing product lines, display practices, and staff training to ensure full compliance—not just with current law, but with what’s coming next.
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