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Tag: Nicotine Pouches

  • Nicotine Pouch Use Surging with Young Canadians

    Nicotine Pouch Use Surging with Young Canadians

    New research from the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit suggests nicotine pouch use among young Canadians has surged dramatically, with more than one-third (34.8%) of respondents aged 17 to 27 reporting they had tried the products by 2026, up from 7.6% in 2022. The longitudinal study, which tracks approximately 3,400 young Canadians, found recent use also climbed sharply, with the share of respondents reporting nicotine pouch use in the previous month rising from 1% to 8.5% over the same period. Researchers said the rapid growth was unexpected and noted that only about one-third of pouch users were cigarette smokers, indicating substantial uptake among non-smokers.

    The findings come as debate continues over Canada’s restrictions on nicotine pouches, which were limited to pharmacy sales in 2024. Health advocates cited the study as evidence supporting strict regulation to prevent youth uptake, while industry representatives and some conservative politicians have argued that broader access could help adult smokers switch from cigarettes and reduce illicit market activity. The research also found that 97% of pouch users had previously tried vaping, with use particularly high among males and in Alberta, underscoring concerns that nicotine pouches are emerging as a fast-growing category among younger consumers.

  • Pouch Popularity Forcing Retailers to Reshape the Backbar

    Pouch Popularity Forcing Retailers to Reshape the Backbar

    According to an analysis by industry publication CSStoreDecisions, convenience retailers are increasingly reshaping tobacco and nicotine category strategies as declining cigarette volumes, rapid growth in nicotine pouches, evolving FDA regulations and shifting consumer preferences transform the backbar. While cigarettes remain the category’s primary revenue driver, retailers reported growing segmentation between premium brands and lower-priced fourth-tier offerings as price-sensitive consumers seek value. Meanwhile, oral nicotine pouches continue to be the industry’s strongest growth segment, driven by consumer migration from cigarettes and traditional smokeless products, aggressive promotions, and expanding flavor and strength options.

    Retailers interviewed by the publication said regulatory uncertainty and rapidly changing manufacturer priorities are forcing constant adjustments to shelf space and assortment decisions. Vape sales have stabilized following years of disruption and increased FDA enforcement, while traditional smokeless tobacco continues to face structural declines as its consumer base ages. Industry operators emphasized that success increasingly depends on localized merchandising, compliance, disciplined pricing and balancing established tobacco products with fast-growing modern nicotine alternatives, particularly as consumer behavior becomes more fluid across multiple product categories.

  • Zest Gets Injunction Against FDA for Pouches

    Zest Gets Injunction Against FDA for Pouches

    Zest Brands LLC announced that it secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, allowing its ZEO Universe nicotine pouch products to remain on the U.S. market while the company challenges an FDA Refuse-to-File (RTF) decision related to its May 2022 Premarket Tobacco Product Applications. The injunction temporarily stays the FDA’s action as the case proceeds through the courts.

    According to the company, the court found Zest Brands is likely to succeed on claims that the FDA failed to adequately assess the impact of its 2021 PMTA regulations on small businesses, as required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The court also indicated that aspects of the agency’s actions may have been “arbitrary and capricious.” Zest said it remains committed to working with the FDA to complete the PMTA process and is currently in discussions with strategic and financial partners to support future growth.

  • 19 AGs Urge F1 to Ban Nicotine Sponsorships

    19 AGs Urge F1 to Ban Nicotine Sponsorships

    A coalition of attorneys general from 19 states and jurisdictions has urged Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to end all sponsorships involving tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. In a letter sent June 8, the coalition argued that nicotine-related sponsorships connected to Formula 1 teams and events could expose younger audiences to marketing for addictive products and undermine longstanding public health efforts aimed at reducing youth nicotine use.

    The letter cites Formula 1’s growing youth audience and increasing reach through social media, streaming platforms, and partnerships with consumer brands as factors heightening concern over nicotine product promotion. The coalition also referenced the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and noted that more than 160 public health organizations made a similar appeal earlier this year, calling on Formula 1 to eliminate tobacco- and nicotine-related sponsorships from the sport.

  • Pentagon’s Nicotine Policy Called into Question

    Pentagon’s Nicotine Policy Called into Question

    A Stars and Stripes editorial published last week argues that the U.S. Department of Defense is facing a “nicotine policy disconnect” in its ranks, highlighting what it describes as inconsistent messaging across leadership and clinical guidance. The piece’s author, Timothy Vermillion, a clinical social worker, said that roughly 30% of active-duty service members use nicotine, framing it as an entrenched feature of military life rather than a behavior likely to be eliminated through abstinence-based policy alone. The article criticizes January DOD clinical guidelines that emphasize quitting and raise concerns about vaping while largely omitting nicotine pouches, arguing this leaves a gap between policy and on-the-ground behavior.

    The commentary also points to senior military leadership acknowledging nicotine use in operational environments and contrasts that with what it calls outdated or unrealistic cessation-focused guidance. It argues that combustible tobacco remains the primary health risk and that harm reduction approaches—particularly switching to non-combustible products such as nicotine pouches—are underrepresented in official guidance. The article concludes that the DOD must better align clinical policy with operational reality to maintain credibility, support readiness, and address long-term health outcomes for service members.

  • FDA Releases Environmental Review for Oral Nicotine Products

    FDA Releases Environmental Review for Oral Nicotine Products

    Today (May 21), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a programmatic environmental assessment covering nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products reviewed through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process. The assessment applies to products categorized as “other,” including nicotine pouches, lozenges, tablets, gums, discs, dissolvable tobacco products, and nicotine-infused products, while excluding traditional smokeless tobacco products such as snus, dip, and chewing tobacco.

    The FDA concluded that the environmental impact of these products is generally minimal, citing the absence of airborne emissions during use and relatively limited environmental contamination from product waste. According to the agency, these products reduce or eliminate secondhand and thirdhand exposure risks compared with combustible products, while the waste generated contains comparatively fewer harmful chemicals that persist or bioaccumulate in the environment.

    The agency said the assessment is intended to support transparency and may be referenced by FDA reviewers evaluating individual product applications. However, the FDA emphasized that authorization decisions will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis based on the specific scientific evidence submitted for each product.

  • Al Fakher’s Nicotine Pouch Line Now Available

    Al Fakher says it has officially entered the nicotine pouch market with eight new products now available on Hookah.com. The company previously announced its intentions to launch a new tobacco-free product line and expand beyond its core hookah business into the fast-growing modern oral category at the Total Products Expo in March. The pouches come in four flavors inspired by the brand’s heritage—Frosty Apple, Spearmint, Mango, and Wintergreen—and are offered in 4 mg and 8 mg strengths, priced at $5.99 per can.

    Al Fakher said the move positions the company to tap into a global category growing at roughly 30% annually, while targeting consumers familiar with its flavor portfolio, particularly those connected to hookah culture.

  • South Africa: 80% of Smokers Back Risk-Based Regulation

    South Africa: 80% of Smokers Back Risk-Based Regulation

    A new survey among adult smokers in South Africa found strong support for risk-based tobacco regulation, with eight in 10 respondents backing policies that differentiate between cigarettes and less harmful alternatives. The research suggests that while 71% of smokers currently plan to continue smoking, improved access to accurate information and appropriately regulated smoke-free products could more than double switching rates, potentially enabling up to 3.3 million smokers to move away from cigarettes. The research was commissioned by Philip Morris International and conducted by a U.S. research firm, Povaddo.

    The findings also highlight significant awareness gaps, with up to 70% of smokers unfamiliar with alternatives such as nicotine pouches, and many citing health concerns and cost as barriers to switching. More than 80% said affordability, availability, and access to clear risk-reduction information would influence their decisions, while roughly three-quarters warned that overly restrictive policies could push consumers toward illicit products, underscoring the role of balanced regulation in shaping market outcomes.

  • Texas Court Says Nicotine Pouches Taxable as Tobacco

    Texas Court Says Nicotine Pouches Taxable as Tobacco

    On May 8, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that oral nicotine pouches qualify as taxable tobacco products under state law, finding that they fall within the definition of “tobacco substitutes.” The court determined that because the products contain nicotine derived from tobacco and are combined with plant-based materials, they meet the criteria for taxation despite not containing traditional tobacco leaf.

    According to Law 360, the decision clarifies the tax treatment of nicotine pouches in Texas, aligning them with other tobacco products and potentially affecting pricing and regulatory obligations for manufacturers and retailers operating in the state.

  • Haypp Resumes Sales in Alabama

    Haypp Resumes Sales in Alabama

    Haypp Group announced that it has resumed operations in Alabama, expanding access to nicotine pouch products for verified adult consumers as part of its broader U.S. growth strategy. The company said its platforms, Nicokick and Northerner, will offer more than 300 products in the state through direct-to-consumer delivery, particularly targeting areas with limited retail availability.

    Haypp emphasized that its return to the Alabama market will operate under strict compliance standards, including robust age and identity verification to ensure sales are restricted to adults 21 and over. The move reinforces the company’s focus on regulated online distribution channels as it continues to expand its presence in the U.S. nicotine market.

    In June 2025, Alabama enacted major changes to its vape and alternative nicotine laws, prompting many companies in the industry to pause sales as parts were clarified and enforcement evolved to ensure compliance.