Potent nicotine pouches are currently under the spotlight after raids around the country revealed that non compliant nicotine pouches are being sold without any safety information.
It is reported that around 1% of adults and youths are currently using nicotine pouches. It is a product currently only regulated by General Product Safety Regulations. This means that the product has to be written in English with safety guidelines but no information on strength or age restrictions is required. It also means that there are no specific regulations around advertising. This is what is causing concern, as the adverts are often targeted at young adults.
Nicotine pouches are small sachets that are placed between the upper lip and gums and release nicotine. As they don’t contain tobacco they are considered to be less harmful than smoking however the levels of nicotine in the pouches vary greatly. There have been illegal pouches that have been found to contain 50mg of nicotine, which is five times stronger than the average cigarette.
The rate at which nicotine is released can affect how addictive it is. For example nicotine in patches are absorbed through the skin, the slow release of nicotine makes it less addictive.Some nicotine pouches contain pH adjusters, the higher the pH the more ‘free nictoine’ is available and rapidly absorbed by the mouth. The faster a drug is absorbed and reaches the brain the greater the rush.
The new Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed its first vote in the commons in January 2025. The bill looks to ban advertising and sponsorship of a range of nicotine containing products. The bill will also ban vapes and nicotine products from being sold to under 18s. Nicotine replacement will still play a role in helping adult smokers quit but it is hoped by tightening restrictions, the risk of harm and addiction to nicotine will be reduced. This is particularly significant for adolescents whose brains are still developing. It is hoped that the age of sale restrictions will come into force January 2027, the date for the tighter regulations is to be set out in the secondary legislation.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board