Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking to restrict youth access to (a) nicotine pouches and (b) other nicotine-related products, in light of the reported rise in the use of these among children and young people, and what further measures it plans to introduce to prevent these products being sold legally to under-18s in Scotland, while the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is being considered by the UK Parliament.
The UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill (the Bill), if passed, will introduce new restrictions on age of sale for all nicotine products and the advertising, sponsorship, free distribution and nominal pricing of vaping products and nicotine products across the 4 nations.
New powers in the Bill will also empower the Secretary of State to regulate (amongst other things) product features, packaging, ingredients and flavourings in relation to vaping products and nicotine products across the UK, with the consent of Scottish Ministers. The Bill will extend the Tobacco and Vapes retailer register in Scotland to cover all nicotine products and it will give the Scottish Ministers the power to impose restrictions in relation to the display of nicotine products in shops.
In the interim we continue to work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) to support enforcement of existing legislation, including checks on sales of tobacco and vapes to under 18s, and advice to business. This is a key component in the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and Vaping Framework and helps ensure that young people’s access to harmful age-restricted products is minimised.
An update on implementation timescales for the Bill will be provided following Royal Assent.