Nicotine pouches sold to children and young people

Today, the Guardian have run an article exposing the legal loophole which means that the sale of nicotine pouches to children and young people is within the law.

Alice Wiseman, ADPH Board member and DPH Gateshead, told the paper:

“It is utterly unacceptable that nicotine pouches, which are both harmful and addictive, are being sold to children and young people.

“These products are currently unregulated, which leaves children and young people vulnerable to the highly targeted marketing that has been developed specifically to increase sales, and therefore harm. The Government must act to introduce tighter regulation as a matter of urgency to protect children from being able to access these, and other harmful, products and stop them being advertised as something which is fun and exciting or suitable for children.

“More research is needed into the long-term impact they have on health, and it may be the case that they could be helpful as a tool to help smokers quit. However, it is clear that non-smokers should not be being encouraged to use them.”