The joint letter to the sector from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), Action on Smoking and Health, ASH Northern Ireland and ASH Wales came with the publication of Government guidance on laws coming into force in October 2026 and January 2027.

John Herriman, chief executive of CTSI, said: ‘Responsible retailers play a vital role in protecting children and supporting fair trading. The overwhelming majority already have strong age verification procedures in place and these new requirements build on those existing systems rather than creating a significant new burden. Trading Standards will continue to support businesses with clear advice and proportionate enforcement, while taking robust action against those who deliberately flout the law.'

The key changes are:

• 1 October 2026 – introduction of the vape excise tax
• 29 October 2026 - minimum age of sale of 18 for all consumer nicotine products, including nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes; ban on vending machines selling vapes or other nicotine products; and free distribution of products prohibited.
• 1 January 2027 – the ‘smokefree generation' law comes into force, making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.