The concept of nicotine pouches has seen a mixed response from the public and experts alike.
Posts have been making the rounds on social media, influencers promoting flavoured products such as “zyn”, “buff”, and “ace” as a method to quit smoking and vaping.
Public health experts are concerned, Sydney University’s Becky Freeman saying that the “wellness” influencers who promote these products are often unclear that its sponsored content.
Freeman said that the pouches are being pushed without reliable knowledge as to what their benefits are.
On the other hand, Action for Smokefree sees the pouches as another tool in the toolbox for helping kiwis kick their smoking habits.
Director Ben Youdan says there’s a place for more products to get people off of the most harmful nicotine product: the cigarette.
The sale of nicotine pouches was banned in New Zealand by the Labour Government in 2020, but importing from overseas remains legal as long as they are not sold on.
Nicotine pouches consist of a small mesh bag of vegetable powder, over which concentrated nicotine was dripped. They were banned alongside snus, a similar product containing tobacco.
Dylan, a caller on Newstalk ZB’s Marcus Lush Nights, agrees with the second opinion, saying that by recommending them the pouches, he got three full-time smokers to quit.
He’s been using pouches for three to four and a half years and told Marcus Lush that these have probably been the best thing for his smoking addiction.
“I went from smoking to vaping, and then to these just because vaping is not... I don’t think it’s a good thing.”
In the past, Dylan was able to get the nicotine pouches from his local dairy, but due to the ban now has to import them from Sweden.
While he used the pouches to ween himself off smoking and vaping, he revealed that he’s happy with his continued use of the pouches.
“One day, if I feel the need to get off it, I can, but yeah, at this stage I’m quite happy taking them.”
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