Exploring possible point-of-sale restrictions for vapes and nicotine pouches: cross-sectional surveys with adults and adolescents in the UK
- 1Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling
Abstract
IntroductionWithin the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, the UK Government is considering restricting retail displays of vaping and other nicotine products to discourage youth uptake. We explored how adult nicotine users and adolescents responded to conventional and restricted displays.
MethodsTwo UK-wide cross-sectional online surveys were conducted April-June 2026, with current and former adult nicotine users (n=2,851), and adolescents (11 17 years; n=2,123). Participants rated images of vape and nicotine pouch point-of-sale (POS) displays (two conventional, two restricted) across 10 items. Other measures included demographics, smoking/vaping/nicotine pouch use, vaping susceptibility, and product choice.
ResultsRatings of two conventional POS images were consistently favourable. Two restricted POS images were almost exclusively rated unfavourably. GEE analyses, controlling for demographics and behaviour, indicated that a display with standardised white packs (versus a conventional display) consistently had lower odds of favourable ratings (adults range:0.13-0.31; adolescents range:0.11-0.32). A fully covered display had even lower odds of favourable ratings on all items (adults range:0.06-0.19; adolescents range:0.05-0.10). Presented with hypothetical restricted displays, most adults using nicotine remained consistent with their product choice. Favourable ratings of conventional displays were positively associated with adolescents vaping susceptibility. Those favourably rating a large, branded display were more likely to be susceptible than those giving unfavourable/neutral ratings (AOR=2.73, 95%CI [2.16-3.45] p<0.001). No association was found between favourable ratings of restricted displays and susceptibility.
ConclusionRestricting POS displays could reduce positive messaging around vaping and adolescent susceptibility. The potential impact of restrictions on adult users perceptions of harm and accessibility should be considered.
What is already known on this topicO_LIOpen point-of-sale (POS) displays are an effective marketing tool which increase attention, communicate positive product attributes, influence social norms, and drive sales. C_LIO_LIWhile evidence demonstrates the impact of open and banned POS display of tobacco, there is a lack of research on how adults and adolescents respond to conventional and restricted POS displays of vapes or other nicotine products, C_LI
What this study addsO_LIAdults and adolescents almost exclusively rated conventional POS images favourably, and restricted POS images, unfavourably. C_LIO_LIFavourable ratings of conventional displays were positively associated with adolescents vaping susceptibility, while no association was found between favourable ratings of restricted displays and susceptibility. C_LI
How this study might affect research, practice or policyO_LIRestricting POS displays may reduce positive vaping messages and adolescents susceptibility to vaping, C_LI
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BibTeX
@misc{mackintosh2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring possible point-of-sale restrictions for vapes and nicotine pouches: cross-sectional surveys with adults and adolescents in the UK}},
author = {A. M. MacKintosh and C. Best and C. Moodie and K. Angus and G. Alexandrou and A. Ford},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.23.26363788},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.23.26363788v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Exploring possible point-of-sale restrictions for vapes and nicotine pouches: cross-sectional surveys with adults and adolescents in the UK
AU - A. M. MacKintosh
AU - C. Best
AU - C. Moodie
AU - K. Angus
AU - G. Alexandrou
AU - A. Ford
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.23.26363788
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.23.26363788v1
AB - IntroductionWithin the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, the UK Government is considering restricting retail displays of vaping and other nicotine products to discourage youth uptake. We explored how adult nicotine users and adolescents responded to conventional and restricted displays. MethodsTwo UK-wide cross-sectional online surveys were conducted April-June 2026, with current and former adult nicotine users (n=2,851), and adolescents (11 17 years; n=2,123). Participants rated images of vape and nicotine pouch point-of-sale (POS) displays (two conventional, two restricted) across 10 items. Other measures included demographics, smoking/vaping/nicotine pouch use, vaping susceptibility, and product choice. ResultsRatings of two conventional POS images were consistently favourable. Two restricted POS images were almost exclusively rated unfavourably. GEE analyses, controlling for demographics and behaviour, indicated that a display with standardised white packs (versus a conventional display) consistently had lower odds of favourable ratings (adults range:0.13-0.31; adolescents range:0.11-0.32). A fully covered display had even lower odds of favourable ratings on all items (adults range:0.06-0.19; adolescents range:0.05-0.10). Presented with hypothetical restricted displays, most adults using nicotine remained consistent with their product choice. Favourable ratings of conventional displays were positively associated with adolescents vaping susceptibility. Those favourably rating a large, branded display were more likely to be susceptible than those giving unfavourable/neutral ratings (AOR=2.73, 95%CI [2.16-3.45] p<0.001). No association was found between favourable ratings of restricted displays and susceptibility. ConclusionRestricting POS displays could reduce positive messaging around vaping and adolescent susceptibility. The potential impact of restrictions on adult users perceptions of harm and accessibility should be considered. What is already known on this topicO_LIOpen point-of-sale (POS) displays are an effective marketing tool which increase attention, communicate positive product attributes, influence social norms, and drive sales. C_LIO_LIWhile evidence demonstrates the impact of open and banned POS display of tobacco, there is a lack of research on how adults and adolescents respond to conventional and restricted POS displays of vapes or other nicotine products, C_LI What this study addsO_LIAdults and adolescents almost exclusively rated conventional POS images favourably, and restricted POS images, unfavourably. C_LIO_LIFavourable ratings of conventional displays were positively associated with adolescents vaping susceptibility, while no association was found between favourable ratings of restricted displays and susceptibility. C_LI How this study might affect research, practice or policyO_LIRestricting POS displays may reduce positive vaping messages and adolescents susceptibility to vaping, C_LI
ER -