Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable illness and early death in Scotland.
Our Tobacco and Vaping Framework sets out our vision for a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034, with smoking rates below 5% across the population. This will help reduce health inequalities, as set out in our Population Health Framework.
Actions
Since 29 October 2026, the following changes have applied:
- age of sale restrictions on the sale of herbal smoking and nicotine products - guidance for retailers is available
- our tobacco and vapes retailers register covers herbal smoking and nicotine products
- it's an offence to offer vaping and nicotine products, including pouches, for a nominal price or for free
From 1 January 2027
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anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be sold tobacco - this will create a smoke-free generation
From 1 June 2027:
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we're banning the advertising of vapes and nicotine products
We’re also helping people trying to give up smoking, through the Quit Your Way stop smoking service.
What we’ve done so far
We've already taken significant action, including:
- banning the sale of single-use vapes, in 2025
- banning smoking within 15 metres of hospital buildings, in 2022
- introducing age of sale legislation for vaping products in 2017, meaning you must be at least 18 to buy vaping products
- establishing the first Tobacco Retail Register in the UK, in 2011, which was expanded to include vaping products in 2017
- raising the age for tobacco sales from 16 to 18, in 2007
- introducing Scotland's smoke-free legislation in 2006
- banning tobacco advertising, as part of UK-wide action, in 2002
Research
We regularly publish and monitor evidence on nicotine-containing products.
We have set up an expert group on nicotine product evidence. This brings together academic and research expertise to support our evidence base and inform policy development.
Background
We published our Tobacco and Vaping Framework : roadmap to 2034 in 2023. We followed this with a progress update on our first implementation plan in December 2025.
Bills and legislation
The UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. It aims to reduce smoking rates and tackle nicotine product use, particularly among young people and adults who don’t smoke.
We used powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ban the sale of single-use vapes.
We also adhere to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Under this treaty, we're legally required to protect our tobacco control policies from influence by the tobacco industry.
Contact
Email: tobaccocontrolteam@gov.scot
Post:
Tobacco Control Team
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG