Since 29 October it is illegal to sell any vape or nicotine pouch to under-18s. Southend residents can report underage or illegal sales anonymously online.

Southend residents can now report shops selling vapes or tobacco to under-18s, or selling illegal and fake products, through an anonymous online form. The council’s Trading Standards team launched it on Monday 12 October (council news).

Updated 31 October: the age-of-sale rules described below took effect on 29 October. DHSC’s guidance was unchanged on 31 October, and Southend Trading Standards has not yet published any test purchasing results.

The law on who can be sold what has tightened since. From Thursday 29 October, it is an offence anywhere in the UK to sell any vaping or nicotine product to someone under 18. That includes nicotine pouches and vapes with no nicotine in them, which until then had no legal minimum age in England.

What you can report

The council wants to hear about shops that are:

  • selling tobacco or vapes to under-18s
  • selling illegal vapes or tobacco
  • selling counterfeit products

The form is here, and you do not have to give your name. The council says illegal vapes can contain unsafe parts and batteries, and that fake goods are often linked to wider crime.

Cllr Irene Ferguson, the Cabinet member whose portfolio includes regulatory services, said the reports “will help our Trading Standards officers target illegal activity, support responsible local businesses and keep our communities safe.”

What changed on 1 October and on 29 October

Since 1 October, every vaping liquid made in or brought into the UK carries a new excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml, with or without nicotine. Vaping duty stamps have started to appear on packs. Shops can sell existing unstamped stock until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, every vape sold in the UK must carry a valid duty stamp (HMRC, 1 October 2026). Tobacco duty went up on the same day, by £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50 grams of tobacco, on top of the usual annual rise.

Since 29 October, under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (DHSC guidance):

  • it is an offence to sell any vaping or nicotine product to under-18s, in shops or online
  • that covers vapes, e-liquid, coils and pods, nicotine pouches, strips and pearls, including synthetic nicotine
  • it is an offence for an adult to buy them for someone under 18
  • giving them away free to promote them, or selling them at a big discount to promote them, is also an offence

A shop that sells to an under-18 can be given a £200 fixed penalty notice. Prosecution can bring a fine of up to £2,500 (DHSC guidance on fixed penalties).

From 1 January 2027, the “smokefree generation” law starts: it will be an offence to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 (DHSC guidance).

Timeline of vape and tobacco rule changes: 1 October 2026 vaping duty of £2.20 per 10ml starts; 12 October Southend launches an anonymous reporting form; 29 October all vapes and nicotine products including pouches become 18+, free giveaways banned and £200 fixed penalties for underage sales; 1 January 2027 no tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009; 1 April 2027 every vape on sale must carry a duty stamp.
The new rules in date order. Graphic by Southend Today
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The high street question

The council links the new form to its wider work on the city centre. Its announcement says Cabinet “will be considering the powers available” to deal with the number of vape shops, mobile phone repair shops and barbers in parts of the High Street.

That follows a councillors’ motion we reported on 5 October. It asks Cabinet to look at limiting new shops of all three kinds, and at refusing them leases in council-owned units. It was not on the 12 October Cabinet agenda, so the earliest date is now the meeting on 16 November.

What it means for you

  • Seen a sale to a child, or fake stock? Use the council’s anonymous form. Vapes you suspect are illicit can also be reported to HMRC.
  • Buying vapes or pouches? Expect to be asked for ID if you look young.
  • Run a shop? Nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes have been behind the age check since 29 October, and free samples and promotional giveaways ended the same day. Unstamped vape stock must be sold through by 31 March 2027.
  • Parents: buying a vape or pouches for someone under 18 has been an offence since 29 October.

Sources