Tag: nicotine products

Call for nicotine and vaping products to be hidden out of view in shops

A huge majority of people surveyed in Scotland support proposals to make shops keep all vaping products and nicotine pouches out of sight, according to an opinion poll commissioned by ASH Scotland gathering views about the UK Government’s current consultation aimed at reducing children’s visibility of nicotine products.

86% of 1,061 survey respondents favour measures preventing all vaping products and other nicotine products like heated tobacco and nicotine pouches from being seen in shops, in the same way that cigarettes are already hidden, a finding welcomed by ASH Scotland and the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS).

Retail displays of brightly coloured and branded packaging are enticing young people to use addictive, health-harming recreational nicotine products, including vapes.

The display ban for tobacco proved highly effective in reducing youth exposure to cigarettes and sets an exemplar for removing vapes and nicotine pouches from window displays and point-of-sale promotions, where they are often displayed alongside confectionery.

The Scottish Government committed to progressing proposals for a Vape Display Ban in its recently announced Programme for Government.

ASH Scotland and the SCOTSS are urging government to move quickly to implement display bans for nicotine and vaping products in Scotland that align with the current approach for cigarettes.

Both organisations contend that the same rules for retailers across all tobacco and related products would assist trading standards teams in enforcing regulations consistently and reduce gaps that could be exploited by the tobacco and nicotine industry.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With 86% of adults polled in Scotland supporting measures to keep addictive health harming vapes and nicotine pouches hidden like tobacco in shops, we want the government to make rapid progress in implementing this proposal, which is both effective and vital, to prevent the tobacco and nicotine industry from continuing to generate massive profits at a cost to the health of young people now and future generations.”

Chris Bell, SCOTSS Chair, said “Vaping displays can be colourful, visually prominent and eye-catching, increasing the visibility and appeal of nicotine products to children, young people and non-smokers.

“SCOTSS considers restricting the prominent retail display of vapes to be an important starting point to reduce visibility and limit opportunities for these products to be promoted.”

ASH Scotland encourages the public to read the charity’s views on the proposed measures in the UK Government’s ‘Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display’ survey and respond to the consultation before the 23:59 on 2 October 2026 deadline by visiting our webpage here.

European tobacco control expert cautions against industry tactics aiming to hook youngsters on addictive nicotine products

A leading European tobacco control expert is encouraging elected representatives in Scotland and across the UK to dismiss tobacco industry attempts to weaken measures in the UK Government’s four-nations Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is progressing through Westminster.

The call comes ahead of Lilia Olefir, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership (a European coalition of tobacco control non-governmental organisations), leading a discussion as part of ASH Scotland’s Learning Week yesterday (10 February) about the importance of regulating emerging addictive and health harming tobacco and nicotine products.

Alarm is being raised by public health experts as tobacco companies including Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Altria have moved into the nicotine pouch market, which is estimated to be worth $2 billion globally, through developing their own products or acquiring companies which produce nicotine pouches.

Nicotine pouches, which are placed under the top lip, are teabag-like products filled with a fibrous white powder and infused with nicotine and ingredients such as sweeteners and flavourings that are released during use.

A health risk assessment on nicotine pouches by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment concluded that high levels of nicotine, which has strong effects on the cardiovascular system, is a health risk. Pouches present high risks for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with cardiovascular disease.

Lilia Olefir, who is also the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control Coordinator for Europe and won the 2024 Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, said: “The tobacco industry is strategically marketing new nicotine to target young people, claiming that novel products have lower health risks, while simultaneously lobbying to avoid regulation on them for as long as possible.

“The rise in use of novel products by young people is extremely alarming and that’s why updating legislation is vital to address concerns about young people’s access to emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

“Annual tobacco industry spending on lobbying activities in the EU is at an all-time high of €19 million and their interference remains the largest obstacle to the implementation of effective tobacco control policies to protect children and young people.

“It’s not a surprise ASH Scotland’s analysis has found many concerning industry-connected arguments against restrictions that can be enabled by the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which parliamentarians would be wise to ignore for the benefit of younger people’s health.”

In March 2023, Belgium became the first nation in the EU to ban nicotine pouches, followed by the Netherlands a month later, and France decided in February 2025 to introduce a ban.

In Scotland and across the UK, nicotine pouches are currently not covered by tobacco or e-cigarette regulations so are not required to adhere to the same controls on advertising and retail displays as tobacco nor age of sale restrictions that are in place for cigarettes and nicotine containing vapes.

Strong measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of nicotine pouches will be introduced in the event of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill being passed.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “The evidence presented by the Smoke Free Partnership and ASH Scotland’s analysis suggests that the tobacco industry is aiming to attract youths to use its new addictive and health harming products such as nicotine pouches to maintain a sizeable customer base in the UK and across Europe to enable the generation of huge profits into the future, at a considerable cost to the health of our young people.

“We have seen a disturbing increase in marketing campaigns promoting nicotine pouches in Scotland in recent months, including the provision of free samples in major train stations and a proliferation of shop window posters which are seen by children and young people.

“We welcome the robust measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which proposes to restrict the advertising and promotions of nicotine pouches and vapes to reduce their visibility and availability and protect the health of children now and of future generations.

“We strongly urge elected representatives in Scotland and across the UK to reject the destructive interference by the tobacco industry and its profit-motivated business associates who are not public health stakeholders and should never be treated as such.”