Category: News This Week

Tucker Carlson Launches Nicotine Pouch

Tucker Carlson has launched his own nicotine pouch brand, ALP, which the conservative American commentator touts as “the first nicotine pouch brand made by and for adults who unapologetically love nicotine.”
ALP will be sold, marketed and distributed through ALP Supply Co., a newly formed 50/50 joint venture between the Tucker Carlson Network and Turning Point Brands. The product comes in three nicotine strengths—3 mg, 6 mg and 9 mg—and in four distinct styles, including Chilled Mint, Mountain Wintergreen, Refreshing Chill and Tropical Fruit.
“There’s no reason consumers should be forced to buy nicotine pouches from soulless, pronoun loving, politicized conglomerates that despise them and their culture,” said Carlson in a statement. “With ALP, they now have an alternative that is delicious and far better than Zyn, which in case you haven’t noticed is as dry as a teabag.”
A portion of ALP profits will go to charities that align with the values of its consumers, such as forest restoration, protecting former K9 servicemembers and funding trade school scholarships for Americans.
According to an earlier article in The Wall Street Journal, Carlson decided to enter the tobacco business because of the way Zyn manufacturer Philip Morris International responded to an off-color remark he made in 2023 about America’s bestselling nicotine pouch.
Until recently, Carlson styled himself as an unofficial spokesman for Zyn. He talked up the brand on frequent podcast appearances. “The truth is, Zyn is a powerful work enhancer and also a male enhancer, if you know what I mean,” Carlson told comedian Theo Von in an interview last October.
Carlson’s representatives then pitched PMI on forming a partnership with the brand. The multinational declined, citing Carlson’s commentary.
“While we understand that these may be Mr. Carlson’s views or made in jest, these statements lack a scientific foundation,” the tobacco company wrote. “Given Mr. Carlson’s popularity and reach, these statements could promote a misunderstanding and misuse of our products.”
Carlson said the message enraged him.
“Of course I wasn’t making a medical claim about their product. I was just joking,” he told The Wall Street Journal. “So I thought: ‘I’m going to launch my own product that’s not controlled by, you know, humorless, left-wing drones.’”
November 18, 2024
Marijuana More Popular in U.S. Than Cigarettes: Poll

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American adults are now more likely to smoke marijuana than tobacco cigarettes.
That’s according to new survey data from Gallup finding that 15 percent of U.S. adults reported that they smoke cannabis, which is more than the 11 percent of those who told the polling firm that they had smoked any cigarettes in the past week.
“While not statistically different from the average of 14 percent in 2021-2022,” Gallup said of the latest two-year average of U.S. marijuana use polling data, the rise to 15 percent is “consistent with the upward trend in recent years.”
Among other findings, the latest data—from 2023 to 2024—indicate that men are more likely than women to report smoking marijuana, at 17 percent compared to 11 percent, media reports. Younger adults, ages 18 to 34, were also more likely (19 percent) to smoke cannabis than adults aged 35 to 54 (18 percent) and those 55 and older (10 percent).
Gallup says the results are reported in two-year averages to improve statistical reliability.
November 17, 2024
Robert Kennedy, Jr. Tapped to Lead Trump’s HHS

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The effects Kennedy will have on the nicotine market remain unclear. Kennedy must still be confirmed by Congress.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump posted. “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.”
As the leader of HHS, Kennedy will oversee the FDA, which regulates vaping, nicotine pouches, and all other nicotine and tobacco products through its Center for Tobacco Products.
Kennedy’s position on vaping, nicotine, and tobacco harm reduction (THR) remains an unknown. During the presidential campaign, Trump promised that, if elected, he would “save vaping” after meeting with Tony Abboud of the Vapor Technology Association.
“I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019, and it greatly helped people get off smoking,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform in September. “I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the ‘kids.’ Kamala and Joe want everything banned, killing small businesses all over the country. I’ll save Vaping again!”
November 15, 2024
Sweden Achieves ‘Smoke Free’ Status

Image: Summit Art Creations
Sweden officially became “smoke free” on Nov. 13
Health data released by Sweden’s public health agency show that just 4.5 percent of the nation’s Swedish-born adults smoke—below the globally recognized benchmark of 5 percent for smoke free status.
At 24 percent, average smoking rates in Europe are five times higher than Sweden’s.
According to tobacco harm reduction activists, the Swedes’ success is the result of their pioneering policy approach to safer alternatives to cigarettes.
“This outstanding achievement marks a significant moment in global public health and stands as a testament to the progressive policies that have guided Sweden’s approach to tobacco control,” said Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, in a statement.
“In the early 1960s, nearly half of Swedish men smoked. By embracing and encouraging the use of alternative nicotine products such as snus, oral nicotine pouches and vapes, Sweden has paved a clear path to a smoke-free society while safeguarding public health.
“They should serve as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world and as inspirational proof that a pragmatic, enlightened approach can deliver sensational public health gains and save lives.”

By embracing and encouraging the use of alternative nicotine products such as snus, oral nicotine pouches and vapes, Sweden has paved a clear path to a smoke-free society while safeguarding public health.
Delon Human, Smoke Free Sweden
The new statistics show that 5.3 percent of all adults in Sweden, including immigrants, currently smoke. Remarkably, the data also reveals that people born elsewhere in Europe would be three times more likely to smoke if they had not moved to Sweden.
“Key to Sweden’s success is its pragmatic focus on harm reduction rather than prohibition,” said Anders Milton, a physician and former president and CEO of the Swedish Medical Association.
“A wide range of safer nicotine products, with a variety of strengths and flavors, is legally available both online and in stores, supported by advertising, which raises awareness and encourages uptake.
“The Swedish government also applies a proportional excise tax, keeping smoke-free products more affordable than cigarettes. This tax policy, coupled with public education campaigns, has empowered Swedish consumers to make healthier choices and contributed to the country’s leading role in tobacco harm reduction.”
As a result of its strategy, Sweden has the lowest percentage of tobacco-related diseases in the EU and a 41 percent lower incidence of cancer than other European countries.
“While Sweden celebrates this historic achievement, most other nations remain far from reaching their smoke-free goals,” said Human. “Their rigid, prohibitionist policies limit access to safer nicotine alternatives, including oral nicotine products and e-cigarettes. These regressive measures are pushing smokers away from potentially life-saving tools and stalling progress toward reducing tobacco harm.
November 14, 2024
22nd Century Net Loss Widens

Photo: crizzystudio
22nd Century Group reported net revenues of $5.9 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, 2024, down from $7.9 in last year’s comparable quarter. Net loss increased to $3.6 million, compared with $2.2 million in the 2023 quarter.
“Having joined this company just under a year ago, we have transitioned from a purely financial focus to the next phase of 22nd Century Group’s turnaround plans, which includes deploying our extensive asset base of manufacturing, brand, customer relationship and distribution resources to build a sustainable and self-funding growth business,” said Chairman and CEO Larry Firestone in a statement.
“While the third quarter results reflect the operational adjustments that I spoke to on our last report intended to address underperforming results in the filtered cigar business, we remain focused on our goal of EBITDA breakeven results in the first quarter of 2025. We expect that the changes in our core CMO business will drive revenue growth going forward at appropriate margin levels.
“I am also excited to announce that we are now moving ahead on our plans to launch additional products, including VLN SKUs within key customer brand families, as part of our drive to expand the distribution of reduced nicotine content cigarettes manufactured by 22nd Century.
“Adding VLN within other brand families is a straightforward way to reduce our time to market, increase consumer awareness and expand the VLN footprint. This is really the beginning for 22nd Century as the synchronicity between the CMO business and VLN is progressing as planned and is the foundation for our growth plans for 2025 and beyond.”
November 14, 2024
Net Sales up at Scandinavian Tobacco

Image: STG
Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) reported a 7.1 percent increase in net sales to DKK2.4 billion ($338.94 million) for the third quarter of 2024, with an EBITDA margin before special items at 23.4 percent. In a like-for-like comparison and excluding exchange rate developments, organic net sales decreased by 0.1 percent.
Discontinuation of distribution of third-party nicotine pouches in the U.S. impacted growth negatively by 1 percent. Growth in the company’s machine-rolled cigars and smoking tobacco and next generation products (NGP) segment was partly offset by a decline in STG’s handmade cigars and accessories business.
The NGP brand XQS increased 72 percent, though the absence of the distribution of nicotine pouches reduced category growth to 2 percent.
The decrease in the EBITDA margin was a result of STG’s investment to support growth of our its NGP portfolio, the currently lower profitability in Mac Baren and the comparison to a strong third quarter 2023.

With the acquisition of Mac Baren, we are in 2024 on track to surpass DKK9 billion in net sales for the first time ever.
Niels Frederiksen, CEO, Scandinavian Tobacco Group
“With the acquisition of Mac Baren, we are in 2024 on track to surpass DKK9 billion in net sales for the first time ever and we expect the Mac Baren acquisition to deliver significant synergies as we implement the integration plan, said STG CEO Niels Frederiksen in a statement.
“In the third quarter market share in machine-rolled cigars in Europe stabilized and began to improve and in particular France showed promising progress. XQS performed well in both Sweden and in U.K. as well as in Denmark where the brand has recently been introduced. The remainder of the growth enablers also delivered growth.
“We remain committed to enhancing shareholder returns and we are about to complete our current share buyback, after which we will have returned almost DKK1.5 billion to shareholders over the course of 2024.”
November 14, 2024
UKVIA Forum Kicks Off
The U.K. Vaping Industry Association’s (UKVIA) annual Industry Forum will take place at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park on Friday, Nov. 15.
The event will feature a program of timely panel discussions, including “Politics in the Spotlight”; “Closing the Trust Gap”; “Adding Consumers to the Conversation”; and “The Balancing Act,” which will explore the best route to further unlock vaping’s potential to improve harm reduction while also protecting young people.
It will also include a panel discussion titled “Killing the Black Market, Not the Consumers,” which will look at how interventions such as a vape retailer and distributor licensing scheme could put a stop to rogue traders for good and bring about a new age of responsibility and accountability for the sector.
“The industry has long been calling for stronger action against the unscrupulous sellers who flout the law and put young people, consumers and legitimate businesses at risk, and we were delighted to see the inclusion of licensing in the new government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill,” said UKVIA Director General John Dunne in a statement.
“Earlier this year, the UKVIA was involved in the development of a vape retailer and distributor licensing framework, which would prevent inappropriate businesses—including sweet shops—from ever selling these products, would bring into force stronger penalties for those breaking the rules and would generate upward of £50 million [$63.65 million] per year in self-sustaining funding, which could be used to empower Trading Standards.”
This year’s UKVIA Forum will also feature a keynote on the “new era of enforcement” from Kate Pike, lead officer for vaping with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, as well as a Q&A with Orla Menzies, the vaping policy lead for HMRC, and—for the first time—an onstage showcase where five companies will discuss how they are adapting their product offerings and leading on innovation across the sector.
November 14, 2024
Sophisticated Illegal Factory Dismantled in Spain

Image: Paco Ayala
Authorities dismantled a large a large counterfeit cigarette factory in Spain’s Malaga province, reports Sur.
Guardia Civil officers confiscated 1,448 packs of counterfeit cigarettes from the facility, which operated 24 hours a day and distributed cigarettes throughout Spain. The illegal factory counterfeited four internationally known brands and had an estimated turnover of €4 million ($4.2 million) a month.
Police were impressed by the operation’s level of sophistication. The facility was powered by a self-contained generator and stored 500 liters of fuel. To avoid detection, the factory operators had soundproofed the generator and made an exhaust pipe to expel the gases.
In addition to the finished cigarettes, authorities confiscated a large amount of materials such as paper, filters and machinery, along with printing plates with the names of the commercial brands and packets ready to be assembled.
November 14, 2024
Quartz and PCA Launch Dubai Cigar Show
Quartz Business Events is partnering with the U.S. Premium Cigar Association (PCA) to launch a premium cigar-focused trade show for the international market. The newly created World Cigar Show will take place in Dubai from Nov. 11-12, 2025.
“We are extremely excited to announce this partnership with the PCA. Perfectly located in Dubai, with the second busiest airport in the world, the World Cigar Show will allow exhibitors to meet a truly global audience,” said Dubai event director Colin Case in a statement.
“Our team will assist Quartz as an advisor with the experience of putting together our annual trade show in the United States and marketing partner to our associate membership manufacturers. This partnership is an example of a win-win where both entities can complement one another’s specialties to create something unique,” said PCA President Scott Regina.
The cigar market in Asia was valued at $2.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow by 6.8 percent by 2029.
November 14, 2024
Stakeholders Mark Start of Brazilian Tobacco Harvest

Photo: SindiTabaco
Public authorities and representatives of the tobacco supply chain celebrated the Sixth Official Opening Ceremony of the Tobacco Harvest at the Afubra Expoagro Park in Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Afubra President Marcilio Drescher said that, following the recent short crop (see “The Great Scramble”), the sector is anticipating a normal year in terms of quality and productivity. “However, the crop is marketed after harvest and we feel anxious and hopeful in expectation for a good price,” he added.
SindiTabaco president Valmor Thesing stressed the economic significance of tobacco to the state, and the importance of the integrated tobacco production system. “The opening of the tobacco harvest is a joyful and rejoicing moment that emphasizes the relevance of the tobacco supply chain,” he said in a statement. “It is a century-old crop that generates income and employment, brings in foreign currency and generates taxes.”
Rio Grande do Sul produces 43 percent of all tobacco in southern Brazil, which in the 2023-2024 growing season harvested 508 million kg. In Rio Grande do Sul alone, tobacco employs almost 70,000 farmers in approximately 200 municipalities.
Clair Kuhn, secretary of agriculture, livestock, sustainable production and irrigation, highlighted the availability of new financial resources to help growers with irrigation. “Tobacco farmers have never had the chance to get resources from the government. Now they have that opportunity,” said Kuhn. According to the secretary, 264 projects have already been approved, with an additional 400 undergoing evaluation.
November 13, 2024