Nicotine pouches have flown under the radar of UK regulations since 2019, but will that all change as the government zeroes in on underage nicotine abuse. What does the Tobacco and Vapes Bill mean for the future of nicotine pouches?

Key Takeaways

• Nicotine pouches are under increasing scrutiny, with new regulations being implemented to control their sale and marketing.

• Age restrictions and potential limitations on flavours and nicotine strength could be on the horizon.

• Businesses should prepare for stricter compliance requirements, and consumers should stay informed to ensure they are using legal and safe products.

Guide to Nicotine Pouch Regulations in the UK

Since hitting UK shelves in 2019, nicotine pouches have quickly become a leading alternative nicotine option. Tobacco-free snus or ‘upper deckys’ - as they’re known on Tik-Tok - are backed by a horde of devotees. From football stars to political commentators, podcast hosts and a legion of influencers, nicotine pouches have gone beyond a simple nicotine replacement to represent a cultural and political statement about who you are and what you believe in.

Of course, with any new product, there is always push back, and although tobacco-free nicotine pouches are much safer than smoking, concerned members of the public have issues with its enticing flavours, unproven safety record and lack of regulation.

These are all similar to the complaints vaping has been facing for years, but if the disposable vape ban and e-liquid price increase are anything to go by, then the days of heavier nicotine pouch regulation could be closer than you think.

In this article, we're going to look at whether nicotine pouches will be banned or at least more regulated in the future. We’ll look at past lessons on nicotine regulation and look for signs that nicotine pouches could be facing more stringent restrictions.

Why Some Governments Might Ban Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine pouches are a relative unknown, raising concerns over long term health risks and the potential for underage abuse. But are they really more harmful than vaping?

Health Concerns and Lack of Long-Term Studies

Let’s start by clearing up any uncertainty. You’ve probably come across people referring to snus when they’re really talking about nicotine pouches. Snus is a tobacco containing pouch that is actually banned in the UK and most of Europe, but seems to be the default name given to any pouch that you place in your mouth.

Nicotine pouches in the UK are a tobacco free alternative that contains only nicotine and a handful of other food grade ingredients. Nicotine is not a known carcinogen and, aside from its addictive nature, is classed as a stimulant on the same level as caffeine (1). There are however, no longterm studies on the health impact of nicotine pouches as they are a new product.

Concerns regarding underage usage

The main concerns come from underage use. As with vapes, nicotine pouches are available in a variety of sweet flavours which can be seen as appealing to minors. Pouches also contain much higher amounts of nicotine compared to what is found in vape liquid and this - coupled with their low cost - has the potential to appeal to minors, placing them at risk of nicotine addiction.

Nicotine pouches don’t fall under any specific legislation and are currently regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) 2005, which requires that products must be safe for use and properly labelled. Up until recently they were not even age restricted - a stunning oversight that the UK government were quick to rectify by tacking on amendment to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

There is also a concern of the potential impact on oral health, although there are no indications of any long term damage, there are no studies on how buccal absorption of nicotine affects the gums and tooth enamel.

Nicotine Dependency – Are Pouches a Gateway Product?

Nicotine pouches are designed to replace tobacco as a safer means of nicotine delivery, but they also have huge cultural appeal on social media, especially among younger audiences. This, combined with the flavours and high nicotine content, could inadvertently create another generation of nicotine addicts who may never have an association with tobacco (2).

Nicotine is an addictive substance that can harm brain development in children and teenagers. Even without leading to smoking, early exposure to nicotine can interfere with attention, learning, and impulse control.

Lessons from Past Nicotine Product Regulations

When a nicotine product has presented a threat to public health of adults and minors, governments in the past have not hesitated to ban, either a delivery method or an entire concept. Let’s take a look at two examples.

The Disposable Vape Ban – What Happened and Why?

When disposables entered the UK market in 2019, they quickly became the top selling vape kit of all time. Favoured for their convenience, they were an excellent entry point into the world of vaping, and helped thousands of smokers in the UK make the switch from tobacco.

Unfortunately, disposable vapes are extremely wasteful and their sweet flavours and accessibility created an underage vaping crisis in Britain. This was eventually brought to heel in 2023 with the publication of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024 which included a ban on the sale of all disposable vapes in the UK as of 1st June 2025.

Snus Regulations in the EU – A Case Study

A similar story played out over 30 years earlier when the EU banned Snus. Hailing from Sweden, snus is a wet tobacco mixture that is pouched and placed under the lip. It was introduced in 1973 and its popularity spread throughout Europe, until the carcinogenic tobacco risks were recognised and it was banned in 1992, with the UK upholding the ban post-Brexit through the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (3).

Nicotine pouches are in effect a solution to the ban of snus - maintaining the same discreet advantages, minus the harmful tobacco element. It would be difficult to argue that nicotine pouches should be banned based on potential harm, considering the legal nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) already available such as gums, sprays and lozenges that are readily available on the NHS (4).

While not recognised as an official NRT, nicotine pouches provide exactly the same function; a tobacco and smoke free delivery method that uses food grade ingredients to safely administer a dose of nicotine.

How Traditional Tobacco Laws Influence New Nicotine Policies

Tobacco laws in the UK are mostly designed to curb the sale of tobacco to minors. One major aim of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was to ban the sale of tobacco to people born after January 1st 2009, with the eventual aim being to phase out the sale and use of tobacco completely and lead to a ‘Smoke Free Generation.’

The government also substantially increased the cost of all vape liquids with a Vape Duty which will go into effect in 2026 The bill also included an amendment preventing the underage sale of all nicotine alternatives, including nicotine pouches. These measures indicate a trend towards stricter control over all nicotine products, including pouches.

It is worth considering that nicotine pouches are heavily promoted on Tik Tok with a focus on a younger male audience. If banning single use vapes and increasing the cost of vape juice places vapes out of reach of young people, then perhaps pouches will be the ‘next frontier’ in underage use?

Are There Signs That a Ban is Coming?

Current legislation shows that law makers are fully aware of nicotine pouches and while they may not be banned, their days of being free of any regulation are numbered.

Current Legal Battles and Restrictions

Recent legislative amendments in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill have introduced age restrictions for nicotine pouches, making it illegal to sell them to individuals under 18. Additionally, proposals during second reading of the bill have put forward a ban on sales of high-strength oral nicotine products (5). This could see nicotine pouch strengths lowered from 50mg to the same 20mg level as vapes.

Government Statements and Policy Drafts

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill grants the UK government powers to regulate the

• Ingredients

• Branding

• Advertising of nicotine products including nicotine pouches.

This move aims to prevent these products from appealing to children and young people as disposable vapes did.

The Role of Public Health Advocacy Groups

Organisations like Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) have advocated for stricter regulations on nicotine products (6). They support measures that prevent branding and advertising strategies targeting minors.

Alternatives to an Outright Ban: What Might Happen Instead?

It would seem hypocritical for the government to ban nicotine pouches which bear striking similarity to sanctioned NRT’s like gum and lozenges - tougher regulation seems more likely.

Stricter Regulations Instead of an Outright Ban?

Rather than an outright ban, the UK may implement stricter regulations on nicotine pouches, such as:

• Limiting nicotine strength

• Restricting flavours

• Enforcing plain packaging

The aim of these measures would be to reduce the product's appeal to minors while allowing adult smokers to use them for what they were meant for.

Possible Tax Increases on Nicotine Pouches

Currently, nicotine pouches are exempt from the UK’s vape duty as they are not classed as a vape product. However, future tax policies may include these products to discourage use and generate additional revenue for public health and monitoring services.

Comparing Nicotine Delivery Methods by Cost per Milligram of Nicotine

Pouches just undercut vaping on raw cost. At ~½ pence per milligram, a 50mg pouch works out about 2½ × cheaper than refillable nic-salt vaping and a staggering >130 × cheaper than cigarettes.

Age Restrictions and Marketing Limitations

With the introduction of age restrictions, it's now illegal to sell nicotine pouches to individuals under 18 in the UK. You can currently advertise nicotine pouches, but marketing strategies that appeal to younger audiences are being scrutinised, with potential bans on social media and other advertising channels. This could bring nicotine pouch marketing restrictions in line with that of vaping, which you cannot advertise in the UK.

What Consumers Should Watch for in the Coming Years

Over the next few years, people who use nicotine pouches should expect some big changes. The UK government is looking closely at how these products are made, sold, and advertised. New laws might make it harder to get certain flavours or stronger pouches, and companies may face more rules on how they market them - especially to protect young people.

How to Stay Informed on Changing Laws

Keeping track of changing rules and regulations and being mindful of the black market is increasingly important as the UK government debates the future of nicotine products. With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill still in progress, nicotine pouches may soon fall under stricter regulation.

Potential Loopholes and Black Market Risks

As regulations tighten, there’s a risk of black market products emerging, which may not adhere to safety standards. Consumers should be cautious and purchase nicotine pouches from reputable retailers to ensure product quality and legality.

What Would a Ban Mean for Current Users?

If nicotine pouches were completely banned, people might go back to using more harmful tobacco or unsafe products from the black market. But right now, it looks like the government is more likely to add rules instead of banning them. That means users will still be able to buy nicotine pouches, but with more restrictions.

Conclusion: Is a Ban Likely or Unlikely?

A full ban on nicotine pouches in the UK probably won’t happen anytime soon, but stricter rules are likely. These could include limits on how strong the nicotine is, which flavours are allowed, and how companies can advertise - especially to stop kids from getting interested. The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives the government power to make these kinds of changes, so it's more about adding control than banning pouches completely.

The Future of Nicotine Pouches in a Changing Legal Landscape

As the UK government continues its efforts to create a smoke-free generation, nicotine pouches will likely face more stringent regulations. However, as long as they are positioned as tools for adult smoking cessation and used responsibly, they will remain a part of the nicotine product landscape, albeit under closer governmental oversight.

New rules are coming - and fast. If you use nicotine pouches or sell them, it’s time to start paying attention. Subscribe to our newsletter to get straightforward updates on regulations, product changes, and what it all means for you. No spin. Just the facts.

Sources

1. Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) - Nicotine “no more harmful to health than caffeine”

2. gov.co.uk - Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation

3. legislation.gov.uk - The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016

4. nhs.co.uk - Quit smoking with nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs)

5. bills.parliament.uk - Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee Stage - Amendments

6. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) - UK Product Safety Review: Call for Evidence Response from Action on Smoking and Health and SPECTRUM