Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A recent study highlights a significant increase in the use of nicotine pouches among young men in Great Britain. These small sachets, designed to be placed under the upper lip, are used by approximately 7.5% of males aged 16 to 24. In comparison, only 1.9% of young women and about 1% of the overall adult population report using these products. Researchers from University College London (UCL) estimate that around half a million people currently use nicotine pouches, with many also engaging in cigarette smoking or vaping. The study suggests that a growing number of users turn to pouches as a potential aid to stop smoking.
Nicotine pouches, which resemble tiny white teabags and are sold in colorful round tins, contain synthetic nicotine rather than tobacco. Young men have described the experience as delivering a potent nicotine hit. Sales of these pouches have surged rapidly in recent years, with researchers attributing this rise predominantly to younger users, particularly males. Usage among young people increased sharply from under 1% in 2022 to 4% by March 2025. The study attributes this growth to aggressive and targeted marketing strategies directed at young men. Dr. Harry Tattan-Birch, the UCL researcher who authored the study, points out that promotion occurs through channels such as Formula 1 sponsorships, music festival endorsements, professional footballers’ endorsements, and social media campaigns aimed mainly at male audiences. Meanwhile, consumption rates among adults have remained consistently low over the past three years.
The findings are based on data collected from a survey involving 127,000 individuals across England, Scotland, and Wales between 2020 and 2025, with results published in Lancet Public Health. In response to these trends, new legislation known as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is advancing through Parliament. This bill seeks to prohibit the sale of nicotine pouches to individuals under 18, regulate advertisements, and impose restrictions on flavors, packaging, and nicotine content. The study emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the impact of regulation so that any potential benefits of pouches in reducing smoking-related harm are not undermined.
According to the researchers, nearly 75% of current nicotine pouch users are men, with half under the age of 25. They note that around 6.5% of smoking cessation attempts in 2025 involved the use of these pouches. It is also suggested that pouches might be used as tools to reduce or quit vaping, which currently has higher usage rates than smoking among young people. An increase in pouch use has been observed in places where smoking is prohibited. Dr. Tattan-Birch stresses the need to balance discouraging usage among young people while avoiding over-restricting pouches to the extent that smokers revert to more harmful products like cigarettes. Although nicotine pouches pose fewer health risks than traditional cigarettes and vaping, cardiovascular concerns have been raised regarding those that contain high nicotine levels, along with growing worries about damage to gums caused by these products. Notably, several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have imposed outright bans on nicotine pouches, with France planning similar measures
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.