Public Health to expand 'stop nicotine' services and accept referrals from children

Cabinet Office Minister provides update as Nicotine Products Bill 2026 passes through LegCo

In the House of Keys last week, the Nicotine Products Bill 2026 passed through all of its stages in one sitting and was sent away to be put before the Legislative Council.

The bill is designed to ban the sale of items such as nicotine pouches to young people under the age of 18.

We heard how some of these products were being marketed in such a way to resemble sweets and appeal to children.

After being put before Keys members in the morning, the bill then went before the Legislative Council, but members asked for more time to consider amendments made by the Island's MHKs.

Flashforward to this week and LegCo sat to consider the bill - it passed, but members weren't happy with the way it was put before them.

MLC Rob Mercer described it as 'insufficient':

LegCo members introduced their own amendments, so it will go back before Keys members next week.

The bill's mover, Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford is confident members will accept the new amendments and it will progress as planned, get signed off by Tynwald later this month, and sent away for Royal Assent.

But what does he make of the reaction in the LegCo chamber?

There have been concerns raised on the Island about these products and the way they're being marketed in some cases.

UK data shows there's been a 'steep increase' in 16–24-year-olds buying nicotine pouches and, as they are neither a vaping product, nor a medicinal product, they - and other like-for-like items - fall outside of the regulatory controls including age restrictions.

And as they are consumed orally they also fall outside some regulatory controls on tobacco products.

And, of course, they're not sweets - no matter how much they're being designed to resemble them - they are in fact quite harmful, particularly to young people.

Ross Keat, a consultant with Public Health Isle of Man, says: "Public Health is the home of the Isle of Man stop smoking service. And the aspiration is that is going to become more of a "stop nicotine service".

"And that will help support people to stop smoking, but also to stop vaping as well.

"That team are developing a programme of work to go out into schools and speak to children and young people about nicotine use.

"So that includes vaping products and nicotine pouches, how individuals might, first of all, not use those products, and if they are using them, a safe way to quit.

"That team are actually currently accepting referrals for children of any age who use nicotine products, be that pouches, cigarettes or vapes, and can support those individuals in stopping using them."

Next week's additional sitting of the House of Keys will take place on Tuesday, 14 July.