For the third year in a row, MEPs were asked about their knowledge and views on new nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. The results of the survey demonstrate a clear lack of knowledge on this new category and should resonate as a wake-up call for the nicotine pouch community.
The study run by Tamarind Intelligence in late 2022 showed that nicotine pouches are one of the lesser-known products. The most common answer on perceived harmfulness of nicotine pouches is “do not know the product and don’t know if it is more or less harmful than smoking”.
Most of the survey treats new nicotine products as a single category but there are a lot of lessons to be learned from the answers even if they are not specific to nicotine pouches.
A clear trend is emerging this year. MEPs seem to be less likely to have a firm view in favour or against new nicotine products. A contributing factor is likely that the subject has become increasingly controversial and politicised over time, rather than MEPs, as a group, has become less informed.
A small majority of MEPs still regards new nicotine products as less harmful than smoking. However, about one in five MEPs believe that they are at least as risky as smoking. Very few MEPs consider that new products should be more restricted by law than regular tobacco and there is a massive decline in respondents who think nicotine is as harmful as tobacco.
It is also interesting to see a strong correlation between perceived awareness of the products and the overall risk assessment. MEPs who say they are not aware of the product or have no knowledge are far more likely to consider new nicotine products, equally or, more harmful than smoking tobacco.
Another clear divide is between the groups who consider new nicotine products a way for smokers to quit and those who consider them a gateway for no-smokers to start smoking. The latter is almost five times as likely to believe that new nicotine products are as harmful as cigarettes.
Our conclusions after reading the results of the survey are that it points to the fact that awareness and knowledge (or lack thereof…) will be a deciding factor for the position of the European Parliament. There is a risk that nicotine pouches, as the least known product, will not be given due attention. Therefore, it is essential that legislators are made aware of the product, are provided with scientific evidence and relevant statistics to ensure a well-informed debate on the subject. We encourage anyone with an interest in nicotine pouches to take part in the public discussion.