What is snus, the latest addictive nicotine fad?

Bababam (0:04)

What is Snus, the latest addictive nicotine fad? Thanks for asking. Snus originally comes from Sweden, but is also consumed a lot in other Nordic countries like Denmark and Norway, as well as the United States. It's made headlines in the last few months. With young people using it more and more, the latest media discussions have centered on a number of Premier League footballers being spotted using Snus on camera. It's a semi-legal cigarette alternative, which comes in the form of a small moist pouch of powdered tobacco, a little like a tea bag. To use it, you place the pouch between your upper lip and gum that releases nicotine into the bloodstream in a smoke-free way, meaning that it doesn't damage the lungs like cigarettes do.

Is Snus safe to use then? Well, that's where the debate starts. Snus is certainly seen as much less dangerous than cigarettes. Some advocates have likened its effects to those of coffee. It's also been credited for helping Swedes to quit smoking. The country has the lowest proportion of smokers in the EU, just 4%.

According to EU Reporter, Sweden has the continent's lowest cancer rates too. In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed snus manufacturers to use health claims in their marketing for the first time. Following the FDA's scientific review, General Snus was authorized to state that using its product instead of cigarettes led to a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. On the other hand, snus is addictive due to its nicotine content. Furthermore, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in February 2023 suggested that snus use may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 29%.

That's because nicotine effects sells in a way which means they no longer respond to insulin. There's also speculation about what snus could do to oral health. Users have described feeling like their gums were on fire when trying it for the first time. Let's listen to YouTuber Jacob Jones doing that in July 2021

Jacob Jones (2:17)

It's kind of burning, man. It says on the back of the packaging, uh, grin with confidence when you feel the tingle. And let me tell you what, I'm feeling the tingle right now.

Bababam (2:26)

We know that nicotine is an irritant, and it could start corroding the skin with persistent use. What is the legal status of snus in the UK? The sale, distribution and advertisement of snus have been prohibited in the UK ever since the 1992 EU Tobacco Products Directive. However, individuals can consume snus in the United Kingdom, and are allowed to bring it into the country for personal use. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches, which are pretty similar to snus pouches, are allowed in the UK. Their use is on the rise, with charity Action on Smoking and Health reporting that 1 in 25 people have tried them. 45% of young people aged 18 to 24 have heard of them too. What's more, a regulation loophole means they can still be bought legally by under-18s in supermarkets and convenience stores. Campaigners say that needs to be addressed urgently.

There you have it. Now you know what snooze is. In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know it for sure.

Bababam.