High strength nicotine pouches described as “a gateway drug” to tobacco pose serious dangers to young people, an expert has warned.
A CJS News investigation found that the pouches, which sit under the top lip between the teeth and gums, could be bought online without any proof of age.
The products have grown in popularity – doubling in use in the last four years, according to research by King’s College London.
Ivor Chestnutt, professor of Dental Public Health at Cardiff University, claimed these “highly addictive” products have the potential to cause damage in the mouth and increases the chance of oral cancer.
Nicotine pouches can be less harmful than smoking if used as an alternative, one anti-smoking charity ASH has said.
But due to a lack of regulation around its sale, the products are often sold in colourful packaging, which can pose a particular risk to young people and children, Prof Chestnutt said.
The big concern is that someone would start using these and become addicted to nicotine, and it may well be a pathway into use of other forms of nicotine, such as tobacco. It’s a gateway drug.
Unlike cigarettes and vapes, nicotine pouches are not regulated by existing tobacco law, but the Welsh Government said it will be introducing 18+ age limit on them in two years time.
In the investigation, CJS News were able to buy 25 pouches each containing 150mg of nicotine, the equivalent to fifteen cigarettes.
The pouches are widely known as snus, named after a tobacco product that was banned in the UK in 1992.
All pouches legally sold in the UK are tobacco-free, but remain controversial due to their high levels of nicotine and direct absorption into the blood.
In a statement, the Welsh Government said that “the Tobacco and Vapes Bill [introduced in the UK Parliament] will ban the advertisement and sponsorship of nicotine pouches, introduce age restrictions, and provide powers to restrict packaging, flavours, and point of sale display of these products.
The law is not set to come into force until 2027 and will not regulate the strength of nicotine pouches.
Prof Chestnutt said “there is no good reason, or pharmaceutical reason, for this product to exist. It’s simply an alternative way in which tobacco companies are trying to make money. I don’t see any need for the existence of it.