Consultation Could Bring Significant Changes to the Sale of Vapes and Tobacco Products

The UK Government, alongside the devolved administrations, is currently consulting on proposals that could significantly change how vaping and tobacco products are packaged, displayed and marketed. While the consultation is UK-wide, any regulations specifically affecting Scotland will be implemented by the Scottish Government.

The proposals, developed under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, are intended to reduce the appeal of nicotine products to children and young people while allowing vaping products to remain available as a smoking cessation aid for adults who wish to quit.

The consultation includes proposals to introduce tobacco-style display restrictions for vaping products, standardised plain packaging, restrictions on flavour names, and limits on the colours, branding and features of vape devices. Further measures are also being considered for tobacco products, including extending plain packaging and display restrictions across additional tobacco-related products and introducing quit-support messages inside tobacco packaging.

SGF is actively engaging with the consultation, assessing what the proposals could mean in practice for retailers and ensuring that members' views and operational concerns are represented throughout the process. We will continue to keep members informed as the consultation progresses and provide updates on any future regulatory changes.

The consultation closes on 2 October 2026. You can respond to it here: Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display - Department of Health and Social Care