Retailers are urged to get ready for upcoming changes to tobacco
and vape laws, with 100 days until it becomes illegal to sell
tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
The Local Government Association, which represents councils, is
reminding local shops, online sellers and business groups to not
leave it too late in preparing for when the changes take effect.
It is just 36 days until the first set of changes comes into
force.
From 29 October 2026, it becomes an offence to sell any vaping
product or nicotine product, including nicotine pouches and zero
nicotine vapes, to anyone under 18. This applies to online sales
as well as shops.
New restrictions also come in on vending machines selling
tobacco, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers, and vaping
and nicotine products. Vending machines for vaping products
will continue to be allowed in adult mental health
inpatient settings in England and Wales.
Free distribution of these products is also restricted, as is
selling them at substantial discounts.
Fixed penalty notices become available for a range of offences.
This will be followed by further changes to the law at the start
of next year.
From 1 January 2027, it becomes an offence to sell tobacco
products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone
born on or after 1 January 2009. The age of sale then rises by
one year every year.
It also becomes an offence for anyone aged 18 or over to buy, or
attempt to buy, these products on behalf of someone born on or
after 1 January 2009.
Retailers selling tobacco products must display a notice reading:
"It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or
after 1 January 2009."
Councils say retailers should act now and are advising them to:
- Check your age verification policy covers date of birth, not
age alone. From January, the question is when a customer was
born, not how old they look.
- Brief every member of staff who works a till, including
seasonal cover over Christmas.
- Order the new age of sale notice in good time and work out
where it goes at the point of sale.
- Review stock of vending machine products and any promotional
or discount offers running past 29 October.
- If you sell online, check your age verification and delivery
processes against the same rules.
Cllr Dr MBE, Chair of the LGA's Health
and Wellbeing Committee, said:
"Most retailers want to get this right, and the ones I speak to
are already asking sensible questions about what changes and
when. Our message is a simple one: do not leave it until
Christmas week.
"The change on 29 October is the one people are overlooking.
Nicotine pouches and zero nicotine vapes come under an age of
sale of 18 for the first time, and plenty of shops are still
selling them without asking for identification.
"From January, the question at the till changes. Staff will be
checking a date of birth against a fixed date, not making a
judgement about whether someone looks old enough. That takes
practice, and it takes a conversation with the people working
your evening and weekend shifts.
"Government guidance is published and free, and your council's
trading standards service will answer questions. Ask now, while
there is time to sort it out."
Notes to editors
- The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29
April 2026.
- Government guidance for retailers covering both commencement
dates is published on GOV.UK: selling tobacco, herbal smoking
products and cigarette papers; selling vaping and nicotine
products; and tobacco, vaping and nicotine products: fixed
penalty notices.
- The LGA has published Tobacco and Vapes Act FAQs for councils
and retailers at local.gov.uk.
- Further stakeholder engagement events and webinars are
expected ahead of both dates.
