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.