Lancet Study Finds Rising Use of Nicotine Pouches in Britain

Key Points

• The Lancet reports growing nicotine pouch use in Britain;
• Use among 16- to 24-year-olds rose from 0.7% to 4%;
• Prevalence is highest among young men at 7.5%;
• The UK plans to ban nicotine pouch sales to under-18s;
• Researchers say more evidence is needed on health effects and quit-smoking benefits.

2Firsts, December 17, —— According to a study published in The Lancet, nicotine pouch use is growing in Britain, particularly among young men.

The research found that usage among people aged 16 to 24 rose to 4% in March from 0.7% at the start of 2022, with prevalence highest among young men at 7.5%. This compares with 1% among adults overall.

Nicotine pouches, including Philip Morris International’s Zyn and British American Tobacco’s Velo, have gained popularity across Europe since around 2019, partly because they are perceived as less harmful than cigarettes for delivering nicotine.

Health experts have warned, however, that the tobacco-free pouches carry cardiovascular risks and could act as a gateway to tobacco use for non-smokers. Among pouch users surveyed, 69% reported using other nicotine products, 56% smoked, 39% vaped and 16% said they had never smoked regularly.

The UK government has said it aims to curb use among children through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes a ban on sales of nicotine pouches to anyone under 18 and packaging rules to reduce youth appeal, while maintaining access for adults seeking to quit smoking.

Among people who attempted to quit smoking in the past year, the proportion using pouches in their most recent attempt rose to 6.5% in March from 2.6% in October 2020. Researchers said further investigation is needed to determine whether nicotine pouches are effective for smoking cessation.

The study used data from University College London’s Smoking Toolkit Study, which surveyed nearly 128,000 people.

 Image source: Bloomberg