PRESS RELEASE
Public backs tighter regulation of nicotine pouches as government reviews public health policies
A new survey by Northerner on the public’s attitudes to changing public health policies has revealed that the British public overwhelmingly supports the regulation of nicotine pouches and stronger protections for young people. As the government moves to introduce new laws on tobacco and nicotine through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the survey results show that the vast majority of respondents support the introduction of regulation on nicotine pouches to ensure responsible use and consumer safety.
According to the survey, 84% of respondents agreed that the government should introduce new regulations for nicotine pouches. The findings suggest that people recognise that these products need to be regulated in the same way as cigarettes and vapes and support action to bring the UK’s policies up to date.
Beyond nicotine pouch regulation, the survey also revealed support for government plans to introduce a licensing scheme for the sale of vapes (82%). Concern for young people’s well-being in digital spaces was also evident. 81% of respondents agreed there should be age restrictions on using social media, while 75% backed the recent law on ID checks before accessing online pornography. These figures highlight the public’s concern about the exposure of young people to harmful content online and support for stronger digital safeguards.
The survey results suggest that while many people feel the UK is becoming a ‘nanny state’, there are specific areas where they support the introduction of additional regulation.
The areas where respondents supported increasing regulation are:
- Introducing new regulations for nicotine pouches – 84%
- Creating a licensing scheme for the sale of vapes – 82%
- Age restrictions on social media – 81%
- Compulsory physical education in schools – 78%
- ID checks before accessing online pornography – 75%
- School dinner nutrition regulations – 74%
Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Northerner, said: “These results show that there are some areas of modern life where the public wants the government to take a more active role and to introduce new regulations. A good example is the overwhelming support for the regulation of nicotine pouches. On this issue, the public, government, and responsible retailers are totally aligned. At the moment, a legal loophole means that there is no minimum age limit on the purchase of nicotine pouches, and this has been exploited by unscrupulous retailers. This survey shows that the public wants action, and there is strong support for the government’s move to close this loophole through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”