“Do I need ID for a shortfill; There’s no nicotine in it.”
We get asked that most weeks; the answer has always been the same; yes. We have asked for ID on everything we sell since the day we opened; nicotine or not. What changes on 29 October 2026 is that the law now says the same thing for every shop and every product on the shelf. That is a good thing because it helps keep these products away from children who should not be starting and it means the shops that were bending the rules have to follow the same limits as the rest of us.
What actually changes
From 29 October it will be an offence to sell any vaping product or any nicotine product to anyone under 18. That covers the whole counter including lanyards. Not just the bit with nicotine in it.
- Vape kits; tanks; coils and pods
- E-liquid of every strength; including 0 mg shortfills
- Nicotine pouches
- Zero nicotine vapes which were not covered by the old rules at all
Batteries and chargers are not in scope and neither are licensed stop smoking medicines from a pharmacy. Everything else is covered.
Buying for someone else?
This is the one that will catch people out. From the same date it will be an offence for an adult to buy, or try to buy, any of these products on behalf of someone under 18. If a lad is waiting outside and his mate comes in with the money that is the offence and it is the person at the counter who committed it.
No more freebies or samples
Two other rules kick in on 29 October too. Giving vaping or nicotine products away for testers becomes an offence and so does selling them at a promotional discount. Ordinary shop discounts, clearance and multibuy pricing are still fine so our shortfill deals are staying. What goes is the free sample and the coupons through the door.
Vending machines selling vapes are banned from the same date too though you will not find one of those in here.
What to bring
Photo ID showing your date of birth, a passport, a photocard driving licence or a PASS card with the hologram. A photo of your ID on your phone is not ID and never has been.
We have run Challenge 25 since we opened in 2013 and that red poster has been on the wall almost as long. Being asked for ID is not an insult. It means we are doing the job properly and it is the same reason you can trust what is in the bottle we sell you.
as always, feel free to come in and ask or ring the shop on 01253 596106 if you want more information.
