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  • UK Pouch Sales Grow 57% in Convenience Stores

    UK Pouch Sales Grow 57% in Convenience Stores

    The UK nicotine pouch market reached nearly £250 million and is growing 46%, according to Circana figures cited by Talking Retail. Although supermarkets account for most sales, convenience stores are the fastest-growing retail channel, with pouch volumes increasing 57% over the past 12 months. Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) UK and Imperial Brands, which market the XQS and Zone brands, respectively, report strong retail demand. STG’s XQS sells for £5.50 per can, while Imperial’s Zone has a recommended retail price of £6.50.

    Imperial figures show that pouches with nicotine strengths of 9.1 mg to 12 mg account for nearly 41% of category sales by volume, while mint flavors represent 64.8%, followed by berry at 14.3% and tropical at 10%. STG and Imperial are encouraging convenience retailers to stock a range of flavors and strengths and provide staff training on product selection and age verification. Imperial cited a forecast that UK nicotine pouch volumes could grow 234% over the next five years.

  • UK Bans Sales of Nicotine Products to Under-18s

    UK Bans Sales of Nicotine Products to Under-18s

    The U.K. extended its age-of-sale restrictions to all nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, strips, and pearls, as well as nicotine-free vapes, effective Oct. 29 under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. The changes apply across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The law also prohibits adults from buying vaping or nicotine products on behalf of under-18s and bans promotional giveaways, substantial promotional discounts, and vending-machine sales of vaping and nicotine products. Retailers face fixed penalty notices of £200 for relevant offenses in England, Wales, and Scotland, with Northern Ireland’s penalty subject to approval by its assembly.

    Haypp’s Dr. Marina Murphy said the new age restrictions close a legal loophole that had allowed nicotine pouches to be sold to under-18s because they contain no tobacco and are not inhaled.

    Scotland is separately requiring retailers selling tobacco, vaping, nicotine, and herbal smoking products to register by April 29, 2027.

  • UK Removes Business Rates Relief for Vape Shops, Drawing Industry Criticism

    UK Removes Business Rates Relief for Vape Shops, Drawing Industry Criticism

    The UK government announced today (Oct. 28) that vape shops in England will lose eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and reduced Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) business rates multipliers effective April 1, 2027, under its Autumn Budget 2026. The Treasury estimates the changes, which also remove RHL multiplier eligibility for adult gaming centers, will generate £10 million annually. The government is raising the SBRR threshold for qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties to £18,000 in ratable value for full relief and £21,000 for tapered relief, measures it says will extend support to about 70,000 additional high street businesses. The government has not yet finalized the definition of a vape shop for the new rules.

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) criticized the decision, warning it could create a two-tier retail market in which specialist vape shops face additional costs while convenience stores selling the same products retain tax relief. “The Government risks creating a deeply unfair, two-tier vaping retail market in which responsible specialist retailers are financially penalized while other businesses selling exactly the same products continue to benefit from business rates relief,” said John Dunne, UKVIA director general. Dunne also questioned whether the Treasury’s projected £10 million in annual revenue justified the potential impact on legitimate retailers and jobs. UKVIA called on the government to clarify which businesses qualify and to introduce a retail licensing scheme that distinguishes compliant retailers from those selling illegal products or selling to minors.

    British e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs estimated that an independent vape shop with a ratable value of £6,000 could face an annual bill of about £2,300, while one valued at £15,000 could pay about £5,700. The company said these figures are illustrative calculations based on the 2026/27 small-business retail multiplier, and that the final impact depends on the rules implemented. Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson said the policy could penalize specialist retailers that check identification and help adult smokers quit while leaving other retailers selling vaping products eligible for relief. Online retailer Haypp also criticized the decision, as Dr. Marina Murphy, the company’s head of external affairs UK and scientific affairs, said the policy “unfairly stigmatizes responsible retailers” and called for a planned retail licensing scheme that would allow authorities to suspend or revoke licenses for businesses that break the rules.

  • UK Smoking Rate Falls as Vaping Remains More Common

    UK Smoking Rate Falls as Vaping Remains More Common

    The UK’s adult smoking rate fell to a record-low 9.8% in 2025 from 10.6% in 2024, with about 4.9 million people aged 18 and over reporting that they smoked, according to data released Oct. 6 by the Office for National Statistics. In Great Britain, 5.4 million adults, or 9.9% of those aged 16 and over, reported using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally, compared with 4.8 million current smokers, continuing a trend that began in 2024 when vaping overtook smoking. E-cigarette use was highest among 25- to 34-year-olds, at 16.4%.

    John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said the figures demonstrate the role vaping is playing in reducing smoking but criticized government policies, including the Vaping Products Duty that took effect Oct. 1. Dunne cited UKVIA research showing 50% of surveyed vapers feared the duty could push them back to smoking or the black market, while industry-backed analysis estimated 946,000 vapers and dual users could switch exclusively to smoking. He called for a “Fair Deal for Vaping” that protects young people while maintaining access to vaping products for adult smokers seeking to quit.

  • UK Vaping Duty Takes Effect

    UK Vaping Duty Takes Effect

    The UK’s new Vaping Products Duty took effect today (Oct. 1), imposing an excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, including nicotine-free products, while a new vaping duty-stamp scheme is being phased in to improve supply-chain traceability and help combat illicit trade. Manufacturers, importers, and warehousekeepers are responsible for the duty, with existing unstamped inventory eligible to be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid duty stamp. Retailers caught selling unstamped products after the grace period could face significant penalties. HMRC can seize non-compliant stock and issue fines of up to £10,000, with penalties increasing for repeat offences. In the most serious cases, businesses could also face criminal investigation, an unlimited fine or imprisonment.

    The government said the measures are intended to reduce vaping’s affordability and appeal, particularly among young people and nonsmokers, while tobacco duty is also increasing by an additional £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50 grams of tobacco on top of the existing duty escalator.

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) criticized the new duty, with Director General John Dunne calling it a public-health tax and arguing that higher prices could push some consumers toward smoking or illicit products. UKVIA cited its survey of nearly 3,500 adult vapers, which it said found about half would consider returning to smoking or the black market following the duty. Separately, Haypp’s Head of External Affairs UK and Scientific Affairs, Dr. Marina Murphy, said retailers face additional compliance requirements, including managing unstamped inventory, maintaining records, and ensuring new stock carries the required stamps.

    The government said the duty is expected to raise more than £550 million annually by 2030-31 and is providing £30 million a year through 2028-29 for Trading Standards, Border Force, and HMRC to tackle illicit and underage sales of tobacco and vapes.

  • Imperial Expands Paramount Brand in UK

    Imperial Expands Paramount Brand in UK

    Imperial Brands has expanded its Paramount value cigarette range in the UK with the launch of Paramount Red Superkings. The new product features an American Blend of tobaccos and is positioned as a full-strength cigarette offering a stronger tobacco taste and aftertaste. It is available through independent and wholesale outlets at a recommended retail price of £14.80.

    Imperial said the Paramount brand, launched in late 2024, has benefited from growth in the value segment. According to company-cited data, value cigarettes accounted for 38% of UK cigarette sales and grew 2% over the past year, while the broader value-price segment represented 17% of the total market in May 2026.

  • BAT Urges UK Retailers to Respond to Nicotine-Product Consultation

    BAT Urges UK Retailers to Respond to Nicotine-Product Consultation

    British American Tobacco continues to urge UK retailers to respond to the government’s consultation on proposed changes to the packaging, appearance, display, and marketing of tobacco and vape products before it closes Oct. 2. BAT UK and Ireland Commercial Director Tolga Kilic said retailers’ experience should inform the final regulations and urged them to highlight potential operational and financial impacts.

    Kilic cited the government’s impact assessment, which estimates vape retailers could face more than £420 million in cumulative lost profits through 2036 from proposed point-of-sale display restrictions. The consultation also covers product packaging, flavor descriptions, and other measures affecting the sale and presentation of nicotine products.

  • Imperial Urges Retailers to Weigh In on UK Consultation

    Imperial Urges Retailers to Weigh In on UK Consultation

    Imperial Brands is urging UK retailers to respond to the government’s latest consultation on the packaging, appearance, and in-store display of vapes, nicotine pouches, and other nicotine products before the Oct. 2 deadline. The company says retailer input will be important given the potential costs and operational disruption associated with changes to store layouts, displays, and packaging.

    The government is expected to respond by the end of the year, with new display restrictions on vapes and nicotine pouches proposed for June 2027. Product appearance requirements would follow later and could also apply to cigarette papers, herbal smoking products, and heated tobacco devices.

    Imperial said it supports measures to prevent youth access but says new requirements should be “practical, evidence-based, and workable for responsible law-abiding retailers.” The company warns that mandatory closed storage could require new fixtures or store-layout changes, while standardized white packaging could make products harder to distinguish and increase transaction times. It also says implementation timelines could be challenging where physical modifications are required.

    Imperial is encouraging retailers to submit their views through the government consultation portal, arguing their “real-world retail experience” is critical to developing practical and proportionate regulations. The consultation comes ahead of other significant UK changes, including Oct. 29’s minimum sales age of 18 for all consumer nicotine products and the phased annual increase in the tobacco sales age beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

  • UK Survey Highlights Vape Waste and Recycling Confusion

    UK Survey Highlights Vape Waste and Recycling Confusion

    A survey of 1,001 UK adults commissioned by nicotine pouch company übbs found significant gaps in public understanding of vape waste and battery disposal. While 62% knew vapes contain batteries and 73% viewed vape waste as at least somewhat of a problem, 46% said they would dispose of a used vape in general waste or household recycling. Only 12% correctly estimated that more than 10 million vapes are discarded in the UK each week.

    The survey also found that 33% of respondents said a cash-back or deposit scheme would most encourage responsible disposal, followed by more recycling points in shops at 31%. The findings come as the UK continues to address vape waste following its June 2025 ban on single-use vapes.

  • UK Sets New Vape, Nicotine Rules for October

    UK Sets New Vape, Nicotine Rules for October

    From Oct. 29, the UK’s minimum retail age of 18 will apply to all vaping and consumer nicotine products, including zero-nicotine vapes, nicotine pouches, strips, and pearls. The rules, under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, will apply to retailers and online sellers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Adults will also be prohibited from buying or attempting to buy covered products on behalf of anyone under 18.

    The new requirements will also restrict promotional practices. Businesses will be prohibited from giving vaping or nicotine products, or related coupons, away for promotional purposes and from offering substantial discounts where the purpose or effect is promotional. Normal clearance sales, bulk discounts, and trade discounts will remain permitted. Medical and medicinal products are excluded, while free products may still be provided through certain publicly supported smoking-cessation programs.

    Relevant offences will carry a £200 fixed penalty in England, Wales and Scotland, while Northern Ireland plans a £250 penalty subject to Assembly approval. Repeat violations can result in temporary restrictions on a retailer’s ability to sell specified regulated products. The government is expected to provide further details on statutory age-verification requirements for England, Wales and Northern Ireland following parliamentary consideration.