In the not-so-distant past, the alternative to smoking was the chew tobacco, and that’s it – nothing like it had existed. Fast forward to the present and we’re now living in a world that offers alternatives to tobacco, alternatives to cigarettes, alternatives to che nicotine itself. For decades now, the most prominent tobacco alternative has been the snus. And over the past several years, nicotine pouches have emerged as a rather prominent tobacco alternative to the snus. Although there do exist a handful of competitors, for all intents and purposes, these two products dominate the field. Everyone else is mostly just an insignificant blip – or a complete failure as in the case of snuff, a smokeless tobacco that was a major predecessor to chewing and dipping tobacco and earlier forerunners to the snus. In this article, we will examine the differences between the snus and the nicotine pouch. We’ll explore why they’re both popular and explain why they have only a few similarities from a consumer-experience standpoint, but why they’re quite similar behind the scenes.
Snus, a traditional Scandinavian product made from moist tobacco powder, is pinched beneath the upper lip for nicotine absorption, typically without any combustion, and is regarded as steeped in cultural practices dating back centuries. For example, snus use has long been considered an embodiment of Swedish traditions. But a ‘cleaner’ alternative to snus, the nicotine pouch, is a relatively novel invention. This foil-wrapped product offers a parallel use-case, minus the tobacco leaf. The absence of tobacco is central to nicotine pouch branding, bolstering the commodity’s public appeal.
These products came about in response to social norms that have evolved since Haggstrom’s time, and as attitudes around smoking and tobaccos have shifted, and health and wellness have continued to hold more emphasis in the minds of consumers around the globe. Snus and nicotine pouches have gained momentum because they provide an alternative way to consume nicotine, and because consumers like to have options, including options more in line with an evolving conception of good health.
Understanding the landscape of tobacco alternatives is crucial for navigating the options available in the market. As we explore the specifics of snus brands and nicotine pouches, including their ingredients, health effects, and cultural significance, it becomes clear why they stand out in a crowded field of nicotine delivery methods.
What is Snus?
Snus is a smokeless tobacco product, originating in Sweden and dating back to the early 18th century. Unlike many other tobacco products, one does not burn or smoke snus; instead, this mildly moist snuff is made from ground tobacco leaves and is regularly – sometimes even continuously – tucked discreetly under the upper lip, allowing for nicotine to be absorbed directly through the oral mucosa.
It is far from contemporary; its long, storied connection to Swedish culture is exemplary; and its use began as a dry nasal snuff only to become homemade soft snus that was socially acceptable – and, not least, convenient – to put under the lip. Snus is as much a part of the lives of many today as it is a cultural object, rooted in history and worthy of tradition and preservation in the information age.
The essential ingredients of snus include air-cured tobacco, common salt, water, and a range of flavourings such as bergamot oil, aniseed (licorice) and spices. Examples of flavourings are toffee, tongue snaps (Simba) and blueberry (Seters Lingonblå). The production begins with this food-safe powdered tobacco that is pasteurised, a non-traditional procedure in the production of other tobacco products. Pasteurisation keeps the final combined product a safe beverage by heating it to a prescribed temperature, so that hydrolytic degradation decreases the ability of undesired micro-organisms to grow, while at the same time retaining the natural flavour and aroma of the tobacco leaf. In addition, this cultivation process makes it somewhat different in chemical composition from other smokeless tobacco when it comes to any potentially harmful health implications.
This popularity is aided, in part, by snus’s ability to offer a ‘smoke-free’ way of nicotine enjoyment, but also because of snus’s ability to be used discreetly. Users don’t need to spit or otherwise remove used material from their mouths in the same ways as chewing tobacco, or dip.
To truly understand the future of the nicotine market, we must familiarise ourselves with the past, and there is no better place to start than with an understanding of snus. The historic use of snus distinguishes it from other histories of tobacco because it is the only major historical form of smokeless tobacco that has found modern commercial success – while of course enjoying a distinct history of its own. The manufacturing process is unique and specially designed for snus.
Exploring Nicotine Pouches
Nicotine pouches represent a modern evolution in the world of tobacco alternatives, designed to provide a smokeless, spit-free experience similar to snus but without containing any tobacco leaf. These pouches consist of a white, pre-portioned bag filled with plant-based fibers, nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves, flavorings, and a small amount of additives to maintain moisture and freshness. They are used in the same way as snus, placed under the upper lip to allow nicotine absorption directly into the bloodstream through the gums.
These nicotine pouches that have come to market are a result of consumer demand for cleaner and possibly less harmful options to the tobacco alternatives already on the market, notably snus made from ground tobacco. For consumers who need or want nicotine for various reasons, but feel that they should avoid tobacco (and its proven harmfulness, including its reported carcinogens), nicotine pouches – without the tobacco – represent a very promising alternative.
While nicotine pouches and other smoking-cessation alternatives might not contain nicotine, their quasi-tobacco DNA means they are not entirely absent from concerns about poison or potentially tainted products. Yet, when it comes to promoting and consumption, the pouches are arguably less Tobacco 1.0 and more 2.0 – sleeker and more contemporary, favoured by a younger generation turned off by the selfish, ableist, paternalistic aspects of older-style tobacco. They evidently satisfy the desire to chew, in a pin up cigarettes entirely might be unappealing, a growing number of individuals worldwide are ready to either reduce their daily allowance of tobacco or find a legal step-down alternative. The flavour palette of such alternatives presents one temptation, consisting of everything from plain and minty to fruity and coffee. More important than palette is the less tangible but undoubtedly slicker packaging, which comes with a vibe of contemporary, clean appeal.
The absence of tobacco in nicotine pouches also means that they aren’t tobacco in the eyes of many regulatory agencies around the world, as they don’t contain the leaf from which tobacco is derived. That status means that not all of the tight regulations that cover products such as snus or cigarettes also apply to nicotine pouches. But that’s rapidly changing. Many health authorities have begun examining nicotine pouches for their health effects and are looking at how to regulate their sale and distribution.
In conclusion, the nicotine pouches offer an alternative way to administer nicotine but without the use of tobacco leaf – in combination with their sleek and modern design and their potentially reduced health risks, they can be seen as a game-changing innovation in nicotine delivery systems.
Key Differences Between Snus and Nicotine Pouches
The diversification of tobacco alternatives has gained momentum with the advent of snus and nicotine pouches. While the nicotine delivery of snus and nicotine pouches is quite similar, the products differ in terms of ingredients, health effects and perceptions within the society.
Ingredients and Presence of Tobacco
So, the most fundamental difference between snus and nicotine pouches is that the former contains tobacco, while the latter does not. In fact, the taste of snus comes precisely from the tobacco from which it is made. Snus is made from a mix of air-cured tobacco, water, salt and flavours.
In contrast to snus, however, nicotine pouches are tobacco-free. The nicotine they contain is derived from tobacco leaves, but the leaves are not in the final product. Instead, nicotine – together with its other constituents, including nicotine salts, such as nicotine itself – is mixed with a mixed plant-based vegetable fibre matrix, together with flavours and additives, for a product that provides the satisfaction of nicotine without tobacco.
Health Implications
The health implications of snus and nicotine pouches are hotly debated: although snus is also a smokeless tobacco product, it’s not free of inherent health risks connected to tobacco use – for example, an increased risk of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Nonetheless, it’s often invoked in harm-reduction debates because the risk profile of snus is considerably lower than smoking.
Perhaps because they are tobacco-free, these pouches are also seen as ‘cleaner’. Since there is no tobacco present, this could reduce the risk of tobacco-related disease. But aside from the question of whether nicotine itself is harmful, there are also issues with nicotine addiction and reports that it can increase heart rate and blood pressure. It is worth pointing out that the effects on health of nicotine pouches are not yet fully established.
Usage Patterns and Societal Perceptions
Snus forms a dimension with some sorts of nicotine pouches, and there are some clear cultural and societal differences between their use patterns. Snus, with its long history in Scandinavia and other cultures, is rooted in habits and traditions that are often part of a social heritage.
Dry snus, on the other hand, is also essentially a smokeless tobacco product. It doesn’t carry with it the same historical issues and baggage that smoked tobacco – and more specifically, the cigarette – does. This makes the marketing of dry snus (and other tobacco-free nicotine) products in a modern, hip, ‘conversation-less’, and socially acceptable light more enticing to young people – and non-tobacco-using adults – who might be interested in quitting nicotine but don’t want to quit getting their nicotine buzz.
Regulatory Perspectives
This divergence explains why regulatory approaches to snus and nicotine pouches vary widely around the world. Snus is illegal everywhere in the European Union but in Sweden, where it is regarded as a traditional product. Nicotine pouches, because they aren’t tobacco products, tend to fit into a more lax regulatory environment – though this is changing.
To conclude, while there is a commonality in how snus and nicotine pouches are used, the similarities stop there. From composition, through health impacts, to the image and regulatory treatment, snus and nicotine pouches cater for different consumer segments eager to quit tobacco. Consumers need to bear this in mind when choosing between the two, just as policymakers should before determining the appropriate regulatory responses.
Health Considerations
Snus use has been the subject of extensive research (especially in Sweden, where it’s most commonly used), which suggests that, although it is not risk-free, it poses lower health risks than smoking cigarettes. Because snus contains tobacco, users are exposed to tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), although at lower levels than are seen in smoking tobacco. There’s also some evidence that suggests snus use, especially long-term snus use, comes with increased risks of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
As a novel product, nicotine pouches lack long-term data on health outcomes. The removal of tobacco leaf may also reduce disease risk compared with combustible products. There is, however, a single factor for which nicotine pouches are not less harmful: for people who use them, the presence of nicotine – which is highly addictive and which can have cardiovascular effects in large doses – is an extremely important health consideration. In discussions of public health, nicotine products are often presented as a less harmful option for established smokers, or a product to initiate non-smokers into nicotine dependence, a decision that weighs the harms of smoking against the harms of nicotine addiction.
Regulatory Landscape
This rather festive political economy intersects with national differences in regulation and control over these products, in turn reflecting varying perspectives on the utility of tobacco harm reduction for public health.
- European Union (EU): Sales of snus are prohibited throughout the EU except in Sweden since the EU considers it less safe than other forms of tobacco due to concerns about oral cancers and other health risks of tobacco products. Would you describe your government’s actions as part of a sensible, moderate policy on tobacco harm reduction or as punitive and unscientific? EU: Snus is prohibited throughout the EU (except in Sweden) under a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to tobacco harm reduction.
- United States (US): In the US, there are no regulatory bans or restrictions on snus, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) status to some snus products, essentially declaring them less harmful than cigarettes. Nicotine pouches are tobacco-free, so the most obvious regulatory considerations are those related to the health impacts of nicotine rather than tobacco’s cancer-causing risks.
- Other countries: Some permit harm reduction by legalising snus and nicotine pouches, while others severely restrict all nicotine and tobacco products.
The regulatory picture continues to evolve along with constantly changing knowledge about the health consequences of these products, which regulators take into account when setting policies. Around the world, health authorities and regulatory agencies face a difficult trade-off between potential harm reduction benefits of snus and nicotine pouches versus risks of addiction and initiation to tobacco use.
In short, while these forms of tobacco are alternatives to smoking and could indeed be less harmful, they are nonetheless not harmless. The details of these arguments cause regulators around the world headaches as they attempt to balance these nuances, trying to preserve public health while pursuing valuable harm-reduction strategies.
Cultural and Market Impact
The distinctive cultural meanings and market forces that have kept snus and nicotine pouches so far apart reinforce that role.
Cultural Significance
It has such a deep cultural meaning in Sweden and elsewhere in the Nordic countries that it’s not really thought of as ‘just’ a tobacco product. In these countries, it’s asotine delivery. The history of social use has allowed the development of a cultural niche in which snus is not viewed in the same way as it is elsewhere. It has been around for so long that its use spans the generations. It’s very much a social ritual, and indeed in popular culture in Sweden and elsewhere, the use of snus by young and old alike is not an evil activity, but is often held up as a wholesome feature of what being Nordic is about.
Market Trends and Consumer Preferences
Alongside this, tobacco-free nicotine products are also becoming of increasing interest, expanding (for instance) the tobacco alternatives market (the fast-growing product trend there being nicotine pouches). Such products are particularly attractive to younger adults interested in either novel and discreet smoke-free nicotine products, without the concern of the compounding health hazards imposed by tobacco combustion. The global growth of nicotine pouches is driven, in part, by consumer demand for harm-reduced alternatives to smoking and the regulated environment making traditional combustible tobacco less accessible.
Regulatory and cultural barriers to uptake may remain, even as it continues to become more accepted (or at least more understood) in its native markets. But in countries such as Sweden, where smokeless tobacco use has remained stable for decades, snus has a long-standing legacy of safer tobacco use that reminds us it is treatable as a harm-reduction product. The world is finally seeing snus in this way, and other nations may soon follow suit.
Market Impact
In markets where smokeless tobacco regulations are less restricting, snus still controls a substantial part of the market, but in the rest of the world, nicotine pouches have an advantage because they are not perceived as a tobacco product but instead are seen as a pure form of non-tobacco nicotine. Thus, we have seen a convergence towards more flavours, higher doses and more varieties of brands than we had with snus.
In conclusion, an examination of the tectonic shifts in the cultural and market landscape of nicotine pouches and snus pinpoints the emergence of a new frontier of tobacco alternatives. In Nordic folklores, snus will forever be indigenous; though nicotine pouches gesture the way of the global market, stoked by an ever-changing flux in consumer taste, as well as attempts to bring about a safer form of nicotine consumption.
Conclusion: Navigating Choices in Tobacco Alternatives
The experiences of snus and nicotine pouches highlight the tapestry of tobacco alternatives, each with different flavours, traditions, health impacts – and their place in your life. The more you learn about the fundamental nuances between these products, the easier your decision will be on what guidepost sets you out on the path toward achieving your personal health ambitions and tastes.
Snus is well established in Scandinavian countries, and brings with it a rich culture of smokeless tobacco use, immediately recognisable in those countries for the sticky wet spot it leaves on lips and chin long after the tobacco is gone. It’s woven into the fabric of social customs, not just because it delivers a healthy dose of nicotine, but because it is tradition. The tobacco in snus delivers nicotine, and that carries with it some risk, though smokers-turned-snusers in snus-legal countries such as Sweden often see it as a harm-reduction switch.
Instead, nicotine pouches represent the latest generation of smokeless products, an increasingly popular, purportedly safer, and certainly more ‘civilised’ way for consumers to get their nicotine without consuming tobacco. True to the concept, they are disproportionately consumed by younger people and represent a simpler, safer means, particularly for women, to satisfy their nicotine cravings without any of the complexities attached to traditional smoking.
The choice between snus or nicotine pouches, and the use of other tobacco alternatives more broadly, will vary depending on health risks, regulatory barriers and ethical values. For smokers wishing to make the transition to less harmful alternatives, nicotine pouches provide a tobacco-free option while snus remains an age-old approach with risks and benefits of its own.
In turn, a thriving nicotine alternative market has evoked an industry and public dialogue around nicotine consumption, harm-reduction and public health. Snus and nicotine pouches are not the last, but merely the latest, entry in this ongoing discussion. If anything, having these options is all about consumer empowerment.
FAQs: Common Questions About Snus and Nicotine Pouches
Q: What is snus? A: Snus is a smokeless tobacco product originating from Sweden. It’s made from ground tobacco mixed with water, salt, and flavorings, and is consumed by placing it under the upper lip.
Q: How do nicotine pouches differ from snus? A: Nicotine pouches are similar to snus in how they’re used but differ significantly in composition. They contain nicotine extracted from tobacco, flavorings, and plant-based fibers, but do not contain tobacco leaf, making them a tobacco-free option.
Q: Are snus and nicotine pouches safer than smoking cigarettes? A: Both snus and nicotine pouches are considered harm reduction alternatives to smoking because they don’t involve combustion or inhalation of smoke. However, snus contains tobacco and thus carries certain health risks, while nicotine pouches offer a tobacco-free nicotine experience. It’s important to note that “safer” does not mean “safe,” and both products still pose health risks.
Q: Can you become addicted to snus or nicotine pouches? A: Yes, both snus and nicotine pouches contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Users can develop dependence on these products.
Q: Are snus and nicotine pouches legal everywhere? A: The legality of snus and nicotine pouches varies by country and region. For example, the sale of snus is banned in the European Union, with the exception of Sweden. Nicotine pouches, being a newer product, may fall under different regulations. Always check local laws regarding these products.
Q: How do you use snus and nicotine pouches? A: Both are used by placing the pouch under the upper lip, allowing the nicotine to be absorbed through the gum tissue. They can be used discreetly and do not require spitting.
Q: Do snus and nicotine pouches come in different flavors? A: Yes, both products come in a variety of flavors, ranging from traditional tobacco to mint, fruit, and coffee flavors, among others. This variety caters to different consumer preferences.
References
The health risks associated with snus use have been explored in various studies, highlighting the complex nature of its impact on health. Snus, a smokeless tobacco product popular in Scandinavian countries, has been scrutinized for its potential health implications. Research indicates that the use of snus may increase the risks of certain cancers, including esophageal and pancreatic cancers, and possibly stomach and rectal cancers​​.[1] Additionally, the use of snus is associated with nicotine addiction due to its nicotine content, which is a highly addictive substance​​.[2]
Nicotine, a primary active substance in snus, is known for its addictive potential and various physiological effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, which may contribute to cardiovascular disease risks in both smokers and snus users​​. Furthermore, snus use during pregnancy is linked to adverse effects on lung development and lung function after birth, illustrating nicotine’s harmful impact during critical developmental periods​​.[4]
Epidemiological data suggest that while smoking rates are declining in many parts of the world, including Western and Northern Europe, the use of smokeless tobacco products like snus presents a different set of health challenges​​.[3] Despite the potential harm reduction benefits of switching from smoking to using snus, as snus may confer only a fraction of the harm of cigarettes​​, the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) and nicotine raises concerns about carcinogenic and addictive properties​​.
It is crucial for individuals considering snus as a tobacco alternative to be aware of these health risks and the ongoing research aimed at understanding the full scope of snus’s impact on health. For more detailed information, please refer to the studies and reviews conducted on snus’s health implications​​​​.[4]
