The Albanese government in Australia has condemned the increase and aggressive targeting of nicotine pouch marketing to young people on social media platforms. Nicotine pouches closely resemble snus, an oral tobacco product popular in Scandinavia, but unlike snus, they are promoted as tobacco-free.
Factors contributing to the rapid acceptance of nicotine pouches globally, particularly among young people, are social media influence and their use by athletes. Marketing strategies online often portray the pouches as useful tools to quit vaping.
Health Minister Mark Butler is spearheading the government’s intervention on the sale of unauthorized vaping products, a move prompted by the noticeable increase in ads for nicotine pouches on Instagram and Facebook. According to Butler, the government is deeply troubled by the profusion of these substances and their advertisement in Australia.
However, the geographical prevalence of the pouches is not solely online. According to NSW Health, 284 containers of the item were confiscated from 60 Sydney retailers from 29 January to 2 February. Products relating to nicotine and tobacco, estimated to be worth $1.1m, were seized during the raids conducted in conjunction with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and NSW police.
The TGA has described nicotine pouches as a prescription medicine consistent with the Poisons Standard since October 2021, requiring a prescription for lawfully supplied in Australia. The government may contemplate future measures addressing this issue.
Internationally, the regulation of nicotine pouches is under current investigation. The US Senate leader Chuck Schumer called for an inquiry into the use of social media for advertising to minors by tobacco company Philip Morris International’s Zyn nicotine pouch brand in January.
Further adding to this problem, The World Health Organization’s “Study group on tobacco product regulation” mentioned in its most recent report that relatively new products representing traditional tobacco and nicotine items pose considerable regulatory challenges globally.
Source: Albanese government condemns ‘widespread marketing’ of nicotine pouches to young people.
