Alarming new data reveals that one in eight teenagers across Britain have now tried nicotine pouches, raising urgent concerns about a potential new wave of addiction among the young.
Survey Uncovers Widespread Teen Use
A survey conducted by Deltapoll for the Future Health consultancy has uncovered the scale of the issue. It found that 13% of teenagers aged 14 to 17 in England, Scotland, and Wales have used a nicotine pouch. Among those users, a significant 30% reported using them at least once a week.
The products, small sachets often flavoured and placed under the lip, release nicotine and are also known as snus. Currently, their sale is not subject to age restrictions, and the survey found most teens obtain them from friends or buy them directly from shops.
Government Action and Expert Warnings
In response to the growing trend, the government is pushing forward with legislation. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will make it illegal to sell nicotine pouches to anyone under 18. The bill also aims to restrict packaging, flavours, and nicotine content to reduce their appeal to young people.
Former public health minister Steve Brine, in a foreword to a Future Health report, accused the tobacco industry of targeting youth. "These unregulated products are being heavily pushed at young people," he wrote, highlighting promotion in shops, on social media, and at music festivals.
Health experts are sounding the alarm. While the pouches do not carry the same cancer risk as smoking, they are linked to nicotine addiction and oral health problems like gum lesions and recession. A recent warning in the European Heart Journal stated that nicotine is toxic to the heart and blood vessels, regardless of how it is consumed.
Public Support for Regulation and Industry Response
Public opinion appears to back stricter controls. The same survey found that 70% of teen respondents support the government's planned crackdown. Furthermore, 63% want it made illegal for under-18s to buy the pouches, and 59% back mandatory health warnings.
The industry response has been mixed. A spokesperson for Zyn, made by Philip Morris International, pointed out that 96% of teenagers have never tried nicotine pouches, according to Action on Smoking and Health (Ash). Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Japan Tobacco International, maker of Nordic Spirit, welcomed a ban on sales to minors but expressed concerns that overly broad legislation could damage a category helping smokers quit.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson confirmed the government's intent: "We’re acting to protect people’s health and stop young people getting hooked on nicotine... This will change." The move comes as separate research in The Lancet Public Health notes a dramatic rise in nicotine use among Generation Z, particularly young men.
