Sweet flavour nicotine pouches as strong as 100 cigs promoted to kids on TikTok
“Highly addictive” nicotine pouches flavoured like sweets are being promoted via TikTok.
Parents and campaigners fear the pouches – small “pads” placed in the mouth – are being targeted at kids through tins labelled as Skittles, Tic Tacs and Millions varieties. One tin of the pouches can pack in as much nicotine as up to 100 cigarettes – and using even one pouch can make a child violently ill.
Yet as they contain no tobacco, there is nothing stopping the “harmful and addictive” pouches being sold to under-18s. Health experts are calling on the Government to ban the sales, while one mum revealed her teenage son had been hospitalised.
Maya Orjiekwe was addicted to nicotine pouchesEx-nicotine pouch addict Maya Orjiekwe, 24, who started using them aged 16, urged kids: “Do not dabble in nicotine pouches. You will get hooked. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet.” The pouches are commonly marketed as “snus” online, although they contain no tobacco.
The sale of traditional snus – smokeless tobacco also used orally – has been banned in the UK and Europe, except in Sweden, for 30 years. Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy has admitted taking snus and football managers have warned use is on the rise among players, who use it as a stimulant.
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TikToker TheSnusKing winces as he tries the Millions-brand snus
The MIllions tins, which come in different colours and strengthsTikTok videos showing people trying the products have racked up tens of thousands of views. In one clip, seen 47,000 times, TikToker “TheSnusKing” winces as he smells some 100mg nicotine pouches – 15 times stronger than regular 6mg Nordic Spirit the supermarkets sell. The influencer – real name Nathan Stewart – who offers followers a discount code for website The Snus Life, tells fans: “Whoever recommended this is trying to kill me.”
Our reporter bought a sweet branded tin for £7 from London based SnusInc after clicking an “I am over-18” button on the firm’s website. There were no age verification checks and the pouches arrived with a free packet of Haribo gummies. We also bought two tins of £4.99 ‘Skittles’ and ‘Tic Tacs’ nicopads sold as Candy Shop products from Glasgow site The Snus Hotline.
Pouches on sale from Pod Block between £29.99-£79.99Campaigners want the loophole allowing the sale to under-18s to be closed due to health concerns. They are backed by Maya, who suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms, and a mum whose son, 15, vomited, lost feeling in his arms and legs and couldn’t hold up his head after trying a nicotine pouch.
The shocked mum said kids would be drawn to the sweets logos, adding: “They should be banned. We have vulnerable teenagers out there and these are screaming at them.”
Campaigners want the loophole closedAlice Wiseman, of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “It is utterly unacceptable that nicotine pouches, which are both harmful and addictive, are being sold to children and young people. “The Government must act to introduce tighter regulation as a matter of urgency.”
Hazel Cheeseman, of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Government can’t wait for this to become a widespread issue.”
Millions’ manufacturer Golden Casket and Ferrero, the firm that makes Tic Tacs, both stressed the nicotine ranges were not affiliated with or authorised by them and they were looking at legal action over unauthorised use of their logos.
Joshua Lapompe who sells addictive nicotine ’Snus’ pouches marketed as sweets to kids on TikTok (Daily Mirror)SnusInc owner Joshua Lapompe, 30, said he had never sold the sweet logo pouches to children, and added he had taken them off his site. He said: “The last thing we want is for it to be promoted to children. If a child actually got a hold of them and decided to take them they would probably be throwing up because it’s a high, intense amount.”
Dylan Moore, 21, the owner of The Snus Life, said the manufacturer had discontinued the sweets-logo pouches. He says he asks users to confirm they are over 18 on his site. He added: “The Snus Life does not condone the use of nicotine products by anybody under the age of 18.”
Manufacturers Mars, which makes Skittles, and Nathan Stewart were also contacted for comment.
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