Whether it is considering undertaking an annual collection of data on children’s use of nicotine pouches that is robust and representative …

Since 2024, the Scottish Government has commissioned an annual boost to the Scottish sample in the ASH Smoke Free GB Youth survey. Each year, around 750 Scottish adolescents aged 11 to 17 are asked questions about their behaviours and attitudes towards tobacco, vaping and other nicotine products, including nicotine pouches.The latest report was published in August 2026 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2026/pages/3/), with results from the 2024 and 2025 survey also available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents/pages/1/;https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2025/. The next wave of data collection is expected to take place in March 2027.Data are collected on social grade and the Office for National Statistics Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS IMD), which are not directly comparable with the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The sample is skewed towards higher social grades and less deprived areas and is therefore unlikely to be representative by deprivation. This limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings.The Scottish Government continues to keep its evidence needs under review, including how best to monitor the use of nicotine pouches and other emerging nicotine products among children and young people, while balancing analytical value, cost and timeliness.