An undercover reporter was able to buy nicotine pouches which can be up to ‘ten times the strength of cigarettes’
Nicotine pouches up to “ten times the strength of cigarettes” and packaged like children’s sweets are openly being sold in Scots shops, according to a damning new undercover report.
Extra-strength nicotine products with “eye-catching designs” made to attract young children, including some copying the logos of much-loved sweet brands, are readily available to buy, BBC Scotland reported.
It comes after a Disclosure reporter, filming undercover, was able to purchase nicotine pouches imitating the name and branding of the popular ‘Millions’ sweets in a shop in the east end of Glasgow.
The shop worker who sold the pouches claimed they contained 100mg of nicotine, which would make them about 10 times the strength of a cigarette.
Tests later showed a lower level of 17mg, which most legitimate manufacturers would still class as extra strong.
Trading Standards previously said nicotine pouches “are the latest example, with slick marketing, sweet flavours and colourful packaging that risk appealing to young people, whether intended or not.”
However, they are technically legal for kids to buy, as there is no law restricting the age of sale for nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches are small products containing nicotine, flavourings, sweeteners, and plant-based fibres. Otherwise known as snus, they are placed under the upper lip, allowing nicotine to be absorbed through the gum, and are available in flavours similar to those of vapes including tropical mango, very berry and cherry ice.
The pouches are thought to be less harmful than smoking or vaping but they can cause a variety of side effects, like nicotine addiction, oral health issues and gastrointestinal problems.
People may experience gum irritation and recession, increased heart rate, blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Nicotine pouches are more easily available to buy than vapes and cigarettes, as they don’t fall under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR).
Instead, like nicotine-free vapes, they are covered by the less-strict General Products Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR).
This means that nicotine pouches are currently widely available in store and online and aren’t always restricted to over 18s. These regulations also don’t have strong rules around advertising or packaging.
Trading Standards officers have found that nicotine pouches are now in plain sight at the front of the check-out areas in stores.
Kate Pike, from the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards, told the BBC it was “outrageous” that products were mimicking popular sweet brands in a bid to target children.
Nicotine Pouches: What’s the Problem?, the BBC Disclosure documentary, saw a reporter buying a tub of orange-flavoured Millions pouches for £7.50. The shop worker who sold the product told her: “They’re special.”
The product was missing all of the required hazard warnings and did not have traceable manufacturer details.
The design on the tub featured photos of the Millions sweets, made by Scottish confectionery manufacturer Golden Casket Ltd.
They told the BBC they had no connection to nicotine pouches and were “appalled” their branding was being used in this way.
Another brand called ‘Candys’, with pictures of gummy bears, was also for sale.
The makers of the Candys brand did not respond.
The retailer told the BBC it had now pulled the Millions product off its shelves.
In order to tackle this recently-emerged threat to young people, a new Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently making its way through Parliament, and it will outlaw the selling of nicotine pouches to those under the age of 18.
The new Bill will also introduce powers to restrict the use of child-appealing flavours, packaging and advertising and dictate where they can be placed in shops.
