Trading Standards warns of dangerous regulatory loophole allowing retailers to sell nicotine products to minors

A shocking regulatory gap is allowing UK shops to legally sell highly addictive nicotine pouches to children, with no age restrictions currently in place, Trading Standards has warned.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) urgently raised concerns after finding that anyone, regardless of age, can purchase these potentially harmful products—packaged in bright, eye-catching designs with sweet flavours like mango and cherry ice.

Youth Awareness of Nicotine Products Soars

Recent data from Action on Smoking and Health reveals a worrying trend. Knowledge of nicotine pouches among children aged 11-17 has jumped from 38% to 43% in just months, whilst 4% are already using these products regularly.

Unlike traditional tobacco products, these small sachets contain pure nicotine—between 1.5mg and 20mg per pouch—and are placed between the upper lip and gums. Their tobacco-free composition has created a dangerous regulatory blind spot that retailers are exploiting.

Shops Display Youth Nicotine Products Prominently

During recent compliance visits, Trading Standards officers discovered nicotine pouches for minors displayed prominently at checkout areas across UK stores. This strategic placement, combined with colourful packaging and sweet flavours, makes these addictive substances easily accessible to young people.

“It very much feels like a game of whack-a-mole,” explained Duncan Stephenson, CTSI’s policy director. “Just as one product is dealt with, another emerges—the availability of potentially harmful products being promoted and sold to our children seems never-ending.”

Health Risks Mount for Young Users

Medical experts warn that children buying nicotine pouches face serious health consequences. Nicotine remains highly addictive regardless of delivery method, potentially causing headaches, racing heart, nausea, and stomach cramps in higher doses.

The discreet nature of these products makes detection by parents and teachers particularly challenging, raising concerns about widespread unmonitored use amongst school-aged children.

Parliamentary Action Needed Urgently

Whilst the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently progressing through Parliament will eventually ban sales of nicotine products to under-18s, Trading Standards is demanding immediate action to close this dangerous loophole.

Kate Pike, CTSI’s Lead Officer for Tobacco and Vapes, expressed frustration: “We’re getting increasing reports from concerned parents and teachers that shops are marketing and selling nicotine pouches to children. It’s incredibly frustrating that there’s nothing we can currently do to prevent them.”

The proposed legislation will introduce comprehensive controls including age restrictions, flavour limitations, packaging regulations, and shop placement rules—but only after parliamentary approval.

Industry Exploits Regulatory Gaps

The current situation mirrors previous concerns around youth vaping, where attractive marketing and sweet flavours drew young people into nicotine addiction. Nicotine pouches targeting children represent the latest evolution in this troubling pattern.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive at ASH, acknowledged that these products may harm users less than smoking but emphasised, “they contain nicotine, which is addictive, and we do not yet know the long-term health impacts.”

Trading Standards continues pressing for urgent parliamentary prioritisation of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, emphasising that every day of delay allows more children access to these addictive substances.

The regulatory gap surrounding youth nicotine pouch sales demands immediate government intervention to protect vulnerable young people from lifetime addiction.

Source: Independent