Tobacco and vaping product vending machine ban
New restrictions on vending machines selling tobacco, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers, and vaping and nicotine products from 29 October 2026.
Summary
From 29 October 2026, it will be an offence for a person with management or control of premises in the UK to have a vending machine on the premises:
- from which customers can buy any of the products in scope
- that dispenses any of these products to a customer as part of a sale, even if payment does not take place at the machine
The products in scope are:
- tobacco products
- herbal smoking products
- cigarette papers
- vaping products
- nicotine products
In England and Wales, vending machines for vaping products will continue to be allowed within an area of a mental health hospital that is intended for inpatient use.
This guidance explains the ban on these types of vending machines.
This guidance is mainly for anyone who has management or control of a premises where a vending machine stocks the products listed above. It may also be useful for:
- relevant enforcement authorities
- people who use these products
Nations in scope
This guidance applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The penalties for committing an offence may differ across jurisdictions.
Products in scope
The products in scope of the vending machine offences from 29 October 2026 are:
- tobacco products
- herbal smoking products
- cigarette papers
- vaping products
- nicotine products
For tobacco products, this includes but is not limited to:
- cigarettes
- hand rolling tobacco
- cigars
- cigarillos
- pipe tobacco
- waterpipe tobacco, such as shisha
- nasal tobacco, commonly known as snuff
- chewing tobacco
- heated tobacco
- tobacco blunts
For herbal smoking products, this includes but is not limited to:
- herbal blunts
- herbal cigarettes
- herbal shisha
For vaping products, this includes but is not limited to:
- vape devices, such as vape pens
- substances to be vaped, such as e-liquid
- related components, such as coils
For nicotine products, this includes but is not limited to:
- nicotine pouches (tobacco-free pouches containing a nicotine powder that are placed between the gum and lip)
- nicotine strips (dissolvable films containing nicotine that are placed on the tongue or between the gum and lip)
- nicotine pearls (small dissolvable balls containing nicotine that dissolve under the tongue)
All types of nicotine are included in the scope, including synthetic nicotine produced in a lab, rather than extracted from plants.
The restrictions do not apply to:
- components such as batteries, charging devices and electrical leads (these products are covered by wider consumer protection and safety legislation)
- medical devices
- medicinal products
From 29 October 2026, the ban replaces existing restrictions on vending machines selling products in scope. The UK already bans tobacco vending machines. Scotland already bans vaping product vending machines.
Machines in scope
The ban covers:
- machines from which customers can buy any of the products in scope
- machines that dispense any of these products to a customer as part of a sale, even if payment does not take place at the machine
This means that a vending machine can be used as secure storage, as long as it is not used to sell or dispense products to customers.
For example, a vending machine would be allowed if it is used to dispense products to a staff member only (not directly to the customer) where they are handling a sale to a customer (not for the staff member’s personal use).
For further information on the tobacco, herbal smoking products and cigarette paper vending machine ban in England and Wales, see section 3 of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
For further information on the vaping and nicotine product vending machine ban in England and Wales, see section 12 of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
For further information on the tobacco, vaping, nicotine and herbal smoking products and cigarette paper vending machine ban in Scotland, see section 9 of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (available from 29 October 2026).
For further information on the tobacco, and herbal smoking products and cigarette paper vending machine ban in Northern Ireland, see article 4B of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (available from 29 October 2026).
For further information on the vaping and nicotine product vending machine ban in Northern Ireland, see article 4J of the ‘Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978’ (available from 29 October 2026).
Adult mental health hospitals in England and Wales
Vending machines for vaping products will continue to be allowed in adult mental health inpatient settings in England and Wales. This is as long as they are situated in an area of a mental health hospital which is intended wholly or mainly for inpatients.
This ensures that inpatients in these settings can continue to access vaping products to support smoking cessation or to help manage nicotine addiction.
For these purposes, the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 defines a mental health hospital as:
an institution (or part of an institution) maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of inpatients who (a) are aged 18 or over, and (b) are suffering from mental disorder (within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983).
This exemption does not apply to:
- mental health facilities in Northern Ireland or Scotland
- any other clinical settings in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland
Responsibility for vending machine compliance
The person with management or control of the premises is responsible for complying with the vending machine ban. The owner of the machine is not responsible for compliance, unless they also have management or control of the premises.
If the person with management or control of a premises wants to remove a vending machine, they should contact the machine’s owner or operator to agree appropriate arrangements.
Alternatively, the person with management or control of a premises may relocate a banned vending machine to an area that is inaccessible to customers. For more information, see the ‘Machines in scope’ section.
Enforcement
A person who commits a vending machine offence can receive a fine on summary conviction. A summary conviction is a finding or plea of guilt for a crime in a magistrates’ court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or in a justice of the peace court or the sheriff court in Scotland.
Any fine that is issued can be up to level 4 on the standard scale for summary offences (currently £2,500) in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the fine can be up to level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000). For more information about standard scales, see:
- section 122 of the Sentencing Act 2020 for England and Wales
- section 225 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- The Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984
Alternatively, in Scotland, a person who commits a vending machine offence may receive a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £200. In Northern Ireland, subject to approval by the Northern Ireland Assembly, a person can receive a £250 FPN for committing this offence.
For further information on FPNs, see the guidance Tobacco, vaping and nicotine products: fixed penalty notices.
In England, Wales and Scotland, local trading standards services will enforce this ban. In Northern Ireland, local councils will enforce it. If you suspect that a premises is operating with a vending machine that dispenses any of the listed products, contact your: