Vape Alternatives UK 2026: 6 Options Compared

Adults in the UK looking for something other than a vape have six broad options: nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators, refillable vape devices, and nicotine pouches. Four are licensed nicotine replacement therapy products, one is a different form of the same device category, and one is an oral consumer product.

This page sets out what each format is, how it's used, and how it's regulated in the UK. It's written for existing adult nicotine users comparing formats.

Key takeaways

• Patches, gum, lozenges and inhalators are licensed nicotine replacement therapy products
• Refillable vape devices remain legal following the disposable vape ban
• Nicotine pouches are an oral consumer product, not a licensed medicine
• Nicotine is addictive regardless of which format delivers it
• Delivery speed and duration differ substantially between formats
• From 29 October 2026 an age of sale of 18 applies to all consumer nicotine products

Why are people looking for vape alternatives?

The single-use vape ban, which came into force across the UK in June 2025, removed disposable devices from sale. Refillable and rechargeable devices remain legal, but the ban prompted many adults to reconsider the format they use.

Beyond the legislation, the reasons adults give are consistent: devices need charging, refilling and carrying; vapour is visible and audible; and there are an increasing number of indoor settings where vaping isn't permitted.

The six options compared

Nicotine patches

A patch delivers nicotine steadily through the skin over a long period, typically 16 or 24 hours. There's nothing to hold, chew or place, and nothing visible beyond the patch itself.

The trade-off is that delivery is slow and constant, with no way to adjust it moment to moment. Adults who are used to reaching for something at particular points in the day often find a patch alone doesn't match that pattern.

Nicotine gum and lozenges

Both are oral and both deliver nicotine through the lining of the mouth rather than the lungs. Gum requires a specific technique—chew until you notice a taste, then park it against the cheek, then repeat. Lozenges remove that problem by dissolving on their own, but they can't be removed once started.

Both are available from pharmacies and supermarkets, and both come with patient information leaflets setting out dosing.

Nicotine inhalators

An inhalator is a plastic holder containing a nicotine cartridge, drawn on like a cigarette. It's the licensed NRT product that most closely mirrors the hand-to-mouth pattern of smoking or vaping.

Nicotine is absorbed largely through the mouth and throat rather than deep in the lungs, so the onset differs from vaping despite the similar action. Cartridges need replacing, so there's still something to carry and refill.

Refillable vape devices

Refillable and rechargeable devices were unaffected by the single-use ban and remain widely available. For adults who want to continue vaping, this is the direct continuation of the format.

Maximum e-liquid nicotine strength in the UK is capped at 20mg per millilitre. Devices require charging, coil changes and refilling.

Nicotine pouches

A nicotine pouch is a small permeable bag containing nicotine, plant fibre, a pH adjuster, flavouring and sweetener. It contains no tobacco leaf. It's placed under the upper lip and left in place for up to 45 minutes.

There's no device, no charging, no refilling and no vapour. Strengths commonly run from around 3mg to 20mg per pouch; the CLEW range covers 5mg, 10mg, 15mg and 20mg across eight flavours.

How the formats differ in practice

What applies to all six

Nicotine is addictive in every format on this page. Changing the delivery method doesn't change that, and none of these products are suitable for non-smokers, people under 18, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.

From 29 October 2026 an age of sale of 18 applies across all consumer nicotine products in the UK, including pouches and vapes.
Eight flavours, 5mg to 20mg, for adults 18 and over—shop the CLEW range.

Nicotine is highly addictive. CLEW Pouches UK products are intended for adult users (18+) only. They are not suitable for non-smokers, anyone under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with a medical condition that could be affected by nicotine. Do not chew or swallow the pouch. If in doubt, please consult a healthcare professional.