Highland retailers warned of new nicotine and vaping rules

Sales of nicotine pouches to under-18s become illegal on 29 October, with vending machines and free samples banned.

Daily Alba · 2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Illustrative image of a shop counter with unbranded nicotine products and age-check sign. Illustrative image, not a photograph of the reported event.

Highland Council’s trading standards team has reminded retailers and consumers about a series of new tobacco and nicotine rules, the Ross-shire Journal reports.

Vaping duty

Since 1 October a duty of £2.20 per 10ml applies to vaping liquids made or imported after that date, with duty stamps being introduced.

From 29 October

It becomes illegal to sell nicotine pouches or any nicotine product to under-18s. Free distribution and vending machine sales of nicotine products will be banned, and Scotland’s retailer register will extend to nicotine and herbal smoking products.

Smoke-free generation

From 1 January it will be illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Source & attribution: This original report is based on Ross-shire Journal, published 2 October 2026. This is not independent on-the-ground reporting.