Schools warned of rise of “snus” nicotine pouches

More than 200 schools across the UK have received information packs this week warning about the rise of “snus” – small nicotine pouches that are placed between the user’s gums and lips. Based on a Swedish tobacco product, the nicotine-only pouches have become popular with footballers, who have been spotted using the products on social media. Children are able to buy packs relatively easily because the pouches aren’t (yet) classified alongside tobacco products like cigarettes and can be sold to under-18s, despite worrying tales of bleeding gums and sickness. In the EU, the product is banned across most of the bloc. Politico reports that the EU’s tobacco legislation could be altered to further restrict and manage the sale of snus, much like e-cigarettes. The lesson of flavoured vapes is that the law needs to catch up faster.