By Chris, Director at Store Fittings Direct. Last updated 12 October 2026.
A tobacco and vape display unit is the lockable cabinet, gantry or drawer system behind (or under) your till that stores cigarettes, vapes and nicotine products. In the UK, tobacco has had to be kept out of sight in every shop since April 2015, and the new Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 gives the government power to do the same for vapes. So the unit you fit now needs to work for the law today and the law that's coming.
Quick answer: Tobacco must be stored out of public view in all UK shops, and has been since 6 April 2015 for smaller shops (large shops in England went first, on 6 April 2012). When a cabinet is opened to serve or restock, no more than 1.5 square metres of tobacco may be on show. Vapes can still be displayed today, but from 29 October 2026 the age of sale is 18 for all nicotine products (including nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes), and the government consulted until 2 October 2026 on making shops keep vapes out of sight too. At Store Fittings Direct, lockable tobacco drawers start from £134.86 ex VAT, closed-door tobacco and vape units from £722.67 ex VAT, and acrylic-door vape displays from £637.33 ex VAT.
Contents
- The rules today: tobacco display law in plain English
- What's changing for vapes under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
- Types of tobacco and vape display unit
- Prices: what tobacco and vape units cost in 2026
- How to choose the right unit for your shop
- By shop type: convenience stores, forecourts, vape shops and pharmacies
- Fitting, security and day-to-day running
- Why buy tobacco and vape displays from Store Fittings Direct
- FAQs
The rules today: tobacco display law in plain English
In England, the tobacco display ban started on 6 April 2012 for large shops (a relevant floor area over 280 square metres) and on 6 April 2015 for everyone else, from corner shops and newsagents to forecourts and off-licences. That's confirmed in the Department of Health guidance for retailers and in Welsh trading standards guidance.
What you can and can't show
- Out of sight by default. Tobacco products must be stored so customers can't see them. Overhead gantries are allowed, but they mustn't give customers a view of tobacco behind the till (ACS guidance).
- The 1.5 m² rule. When you open a unit to serve, restock or clean, no more than 1.5 square metres of tobacco may be on show, and only for as long as the job takes. If the job stops, the doors close.
- Requested display. You can show a product to an adult (18+) who asks to buy tobacco. Showing it to an under-18 is a separate offence.
- Price lists. One A3 price list with brand names and prices only, in black Helvetica or Arial on a white background, no bigger than 30-point text. Shelf price labels and a catalogue shown only on request are also allowed.
- Accessories. Papers and lighters can still be on open display.
- Heated tobacco is treated like other tobacco for display and promotion, according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
Penalties
Breaking the display rules is a criminal offence. The Department of Health guidance says the maximum is an unlimited fine and/or up to six months in prison in the magistrates' court, or up to two years in the Crown Court. Scotland has its own display regulations, so if you trade there, check with your local trading standards team.
What's changing for vapes under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 got Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Some parts are already dated; others need further regulations first. Here's what matters for your counter, based on the Local Government Association's Act FAQs and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
Confirmed dates
- 29 October 2026: the minimum age of sale becomes 18 for all consumer nicotine products, including nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes. Vending machines selling vapes or nicotine products are banned, and so is giving them away free. In England and Wales, a £200 fixed penalty notice comes in for these offences (£100 if paid within 14 days).
- 1 January 2027: the "smoke-free generation" rule starts. It becomes illegal to sell tobacco, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, and you'll need updated age-of-sale signage. Adults who can legally buy tobacco now keep that right.
- 1 June 2027 (planned): the ban on advertising and sponsorship of vapes and nicotine products, as set out on the Department of Health and Social Care blog.
Proposed: vapes out of sight
The Act gives ministers the power to control how vapes are displayed in shops. On 10 July 2026 the UK and devolved governments launched a 12-week consultation, which closed at 11.59pm on 2 October 2026. According to ASH's summary of the consultation, it proposes that vapes and nicotine products are sold from behind the counter in closed units, like cigarettes. Pharmacies could keep a limited display, for example in locked transparent cabinets, to support people quitting smoking. Any change would need new regulations first, with a transition period for shops.
None of this is law yet, and the LGA puts the likely timing at 2027 to 2029. But if you're replacing a back-counter unit now, it makes sense to buy one that can close and lock, so you aren't paying twice. The Association of Convenience Stores has already warned about the "limited space they have available behind the till point", so planning your space early matters.
Types of tobacco and vape display unit
Lockable tobacco drawers
Drawers are the simplest way to keep tobacco hidden. Each drawer pulls out, you serve, it closes. Opening one drawer at a time makes it easy to stay within the 1.5 m² limit. Our Shop Cigarette Drawers fit onto standard shop shelving in 665mm, 800mm, 1000mm and 1250mm widths, and the Under Counter Tobacco Drawers slot under your till counter in the same widths.
Closed-door tobacco and vape cabinets
Full-height cabinets with solid sliding doors give you the most storage behind the till. The doors keep stock out of sight between sales, and open shelving below can hold permitted items such as papers, lighters or general stock. Our Tobacco and Vape Unit with Sliding Doors comes in 800mm to 1200mm widths, 2100mm to 2300mm heights and 11 finishes.
Acrylic-door vape displays
Clear acrylic doors let customers see the range while the products stay locked away from shoplifters. That suits vapes today. If the out-of-sight proposals become law, clear doors alone won't hide the stock in most shops, so these are best for vape specialists, for pharmacies (if their proposed exemption goes through), or for retailers happy to add covers later. See the Vape Display with Acrylic Doors.
Open-front vape units with storage drawers
Open shelves on top, lockable drawers underneath for back-up stock. These give the best product visibility and fastest service. They're fine under today's vape rules, but they won't meet an out-of-sight rule without doors or covers being added. Have a look at the Open Front Vape Display with Storage Drawers.
Counter-top and low-level units
Smaller units sit on or behind the counter. The Open Backed Counter Top Vape Display is 900mm or 1000mm high, so it works where you can't fit a full-height cabinet. The acrylic Counter Top Vape Display Stand is our lowest-cost vape option, but it is an open display, so think about where it's heading before you buy.
Prices: what tobacco and vape units cost in 2026
Here's what our current range costs. All prices are ex VAT; our product pages show both ex VAT and inc VAT.
| Unit | Type | Sizes | Hides stock from view? | From (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shop Cigarette Drawers | Lockable drawers on shelving | 665–1250mm per drawer | Yes | £134.86 |
| Under Counter Tobacco Drawers | Under-till drawers | 665–1250mm | Yes | £153.33 |
| Counter Top Vape Display Stand | Acrylic counter stand | 560 x 180 x 720mm | No | £240.61 |
| Open Backed Counter Top Vape Display | Low open shelving | 500–1200mm wide, 900–1000mm high | No | £348.00 |
| Open Front Vape Display with Storage Drawers | Open shelves + locked drawers | 500–1200mm wide, 2100–2300mm high | Drawers only | £518.67 |
| Vape Display with Acrylic Doors | Lockable clear doors | 500–1200mm wide, 2100–2300mm high | No (locked but visible) | £637.33 |
| Tobacco and Vape Unit with Sliding Doors | Solid sliding doors + shelves | 800–1200mm wide, 2100–2300mm high | Yes | £722.67 |
The tall cabinets go up to £1,184.00 ex VAT for the largest sizes with dimmable coloured lighting. Prices are correct at 12 October 2026; check the product page for the latest.
What pushes the price up
- Width and height. A 1200mm-wide, 2300mm-high cabinet costs more than a 500mm one, but gives you far more facings.
- Lighting. Choose no lights, white lights or dimming coloured lights.
- Doors. Solid sliding doors and acrylic doors cost more than open shelves, but they're what keeps you compliant and cuts theft.
- Finish. Eleven finishes, from black and graphite to oak and marble effects, so you can match your counter or wood-effect shelving.
How to choose the right unit for your shop
1. Decide what must be hidden now and what might be later
Tobacco and heated tobacco: hidden now, no exceptions. Vapes and nicotine pouches: can be shown today, but likely to need hiding in the next few years. If you're buying one unit to hold both, buy one that closes.
2. Measure the space behind your till
Measure the wall width, ceiling height, and how far the counter sits from the wall. Leave enough room for staff to open doors and drawers without bumping into each other. If space is tight, under-counter drawers plus a low counter-top unit can beat one tall cabinet. Our guide on how to maximise small retail space has more ideas.
3. Think about how fast you serve
Busy forecourts and convenience stores need staff to find a product in seconds. Drawers with pusher dividers keep packs facing forward. Sliding doors on a tall cabinet are quick to open and close. Our article on improving customer flow in checkout zones covers the till area in more detail.
4. Lock it
Vapes and tobacco are high-value and easy to pocket. Lockable doors and drawers, plus a security mirror covering the counter, make life harder for thieves. See our guide to reducing shoplifting and our loss prevention range.
5. Plan your price list and signage
Tobacco prices must go on a plain A3 list or small shelf labels, not on the unit itself. From 1 January 2027 you'll also need the new smoke-free generation sign. Leave a spot near the till for both.
By shop type: convenience stores, forecourts, vape shops and pharmacies
Convenience stores and newsagents
Most sell both tobacco and vapes from one small area behind the till. A closed-door cabinet for tobacco and vapes, plus under-counter drawers for the fastest sellers, covers today's law and the likely changes. Our guide to shelving for convenience stores helps with the rest of the shop floor.
Forecourts
Kiosks are tight on space, and night-time trading often runs through a hatch. Shallow drawers and slim cabinets work best. Keep the most-requested lines closest to the serving point.
Specialist vape shops
Vape shops sell on range and visibility. Lit acrylic-door cabinets and open-front units show stock well today. The consultation did not propose a blanket exemption for vape shops (only trade-only premises and a limited pharmacy display), so it's worth choosing units where doors or covers can be added later.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies may be allowed a limited display in locked transparent units under the proposals, which suits the acrylic-door cabinet. Browse our full pharmacy shop fittings, including the Pharmacy Checkout Zone (from £4,517.63 ex VAT).
Fitting, security and day-to-day running
Fitting
Tall cabinets should be fixed back to the wall so they can't tip when doors or drawers are open. Shelf-mounted cigarette drawers hang on standard shelving uprights, so check your existing wall shelving (bays from £72.53 ex VAT) or gondola matches the drawer widths before you order. Our shelving accessories cover the extra bits.
Running it day to day
- Restock in one go, then close up. Restocking is allowed, but only for as long as it takes.
- Keep keys with staff on shift, not hanging in the lock.
- Train staff on the 1.5 m² rule, the "requested display" rule, and the new age rules from 29 October 2026 and 1 January 2027.
- Check locks, runners and hinges monthly. A drawer that won't shut properly is a compliance problem as well as a theft risk.
- Use clear shelf price labels; electronic shelf labels make price changes quicker. Read our beginner's guide to ESLs.
Why buy tobacco and vape displays from Store Fittings Direct
- The full counter in one place: tobacco drawers, vape cabinets, shop shelving, checkout gates, queue management and retail fittings.
- Clear pricing: every price is shown ex VAT and inc VAT.
- Free delivery on over 90% of our products.
- Over 30 years' experience supplying retailers, the NHS, councils, warehouses and construction.
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and a SEDEX member.
- Every Google review is five stars.
- Straight advice: call 0116 318 4182 and we'll help you pick the right unit for your space and the rules.
See the full cigarette and vape stands range, or read our shop shelving buying guide and how to plan a retail fit-out.
FAQs
Is it illegal to display tobacco in a shop in the UK?
Yes. Since 6 April 2015 every shop in the UK has had to keep tobacco out of public sight (in England, large shops over 280 square metres had to from 6 April 2012). You can show a product to an adult who asks to buy it, and up to 1.5 square metres can be visible while you serve, restock or clean.
Do vapes have to be hidden behind the counter?
Not yet. Vapes can still be displayed, but the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 lets the government require it, and a consultation that closed on 2 October 2026 proposed keeping vapes and nicotine products out of sight in shops. Buying a unit with doors or drawers now saves paying twice later.
What changes for retailers on 29 October 2026?
The minimum age of sale becomes 18 for all consumer nicotine products, including nicotine pouches and zero-nicotine vapes. Vape vending machines and free giveaways are banned, and a £200 fixed penalty notice applies in England and Wales (£100 if paid within 14 days).
What is the smoke-free generation law?
From 1 January 2027 it is illegal to sell tobacco, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. Shops will need updated age-of-sale signage. People who can legally buy tobacco now keep that right.
How much does a tobacco display unit cost?
At Store Fittings Direct, lockable shop cigarette drawers start from £134.86 ex VAT, under-counter tobacco drawers from £153.33 ex VAT, and full-height tobacco and vape units with sliding doors from £722.67 ex VAT. The largest lit cabinets go up to £1,184.00 ex VAT.
Can I use a vape cabinet with clear acrylic doors?
Yes, for vapes today. Clear doors keep stock locked away from shoplifters. They do not hide stock, so they cannot be used for tobacco on show, and they may not meet a future vape out-of-sight rule except in pharmacies, which were proposed a limited exemption for locked transparent units.
How should tobacco prices be shown?
On one A3 price list showing only brand names and prices, in black Helvetica or Arial on a white background with text no bigger than 30 point. Small shelf price labels and a catalogue shown only to adults on request are also allowed.
