Survey finds most underage nicotine pouch purchases happen in physical stores
November 25, 2025
Photo: iStock
A new survey from online nicotine pouch retailer Haypp suggests that brick-and-mortar stores remain the primary source of underage access to nicotine pouches in the UK – despite widespread public belief that minors find it easier to buy these products online.
According to Haypp’s latest Nicotine Pouch Report, two-thirds of adults surveyed believe it is easier for under-18s to buy nicotine pouches online than in shops. But the experiences of those who admitted to purchasing pouches while underage point to a very different reality.
Of respondents who had bought nicotine pouches before turning 18, 56 per cent said they purchased them from a corner shop, 17 per cent from a supermarket, and 31 per cent obtained them from friends. Just 21 per cent reported buying nicotine pouches online. Taken together, 73 per cent of underage purchasers sourced products from physical retailers, compared with 21 per cent online.
The findings come at a time when nicotine pouches remain legally exempt from age-of-sale restrictions – a loophole set to close when the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill is enacted. While there is currently no legal requirement for age checks on pouch sales, many online retailers, including Haypp, already use digital verification systems.
Haypp argues that these systems offer greater consistency than in-store checks, which rely on staff discretion and can be applied inconsistently.
“A critical factor in the prevention of underage access to adult-only products is having robust and reliable age verification procedure,” said Markus Lindblad, head of external affairs at Haypp. “Digital systems can enforce mandatory checks more consistently and maintain a traceable record, whereas in-store age verification is often at the discretion of whatever staff member is on duty at a particular time.”
The company says the data highlights a need for stronger age-verification processes across the retail sector and is urging all sellers – on and offline – to act responsibly ahead of the legislation change.
