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
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
The products in scope of the vending machine offences from 29 October 2026 are:
- tobacco products
- herbal smoking products
- cigarette papers
- 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
- herbal blunts
- herbal cigarettes
- herbal shisha
- related components, such as coils
- nicotine pouches (tobacco-free pouches containing a nicotine powder that are placed between the gum and lip)
The restrictions do not apply to:
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).
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative. Continue reading at UK DHSC ↗