The Irish Cancer Society has called for stronger regulation of nicotine pouches.
The pouches, which are the size of a stick of chewing gum and contain nicotine powder of varying doses, are consumed by being placed between the lip and the gum, which releases the nicotine.
CEO of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power said that the pouches are being marketed towards young people.
She said they cost about €5 to €7 per can of 15 to 20 pouches and are “a lot cheaper than cigarettes”.
“When you look at the packaging, they’re deliberately designed to look like sweets,” Ms Power said.
“They come in a wide range of different sweet flavours, all to make them as attractive as possible to young people.
“One of the other reasons they’re so attractive to teenagers is that unlike smoking, there’s no smoke.
“Unlike vaping, there’s no vapour. They’re very discreet. They can be used anywhere without parents or teachers even knowing that kids are using them.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Power referenced a survey which found that almost 8% of 15 and 16 year olds had already used nicotine pouches.
“We’d expect that to be significantly higher now, given how strongly they’re being marketed at teenagers,” she said.
“We are warning that this is going to be just like the vaping epidemic. The Irish Cancer Society was calling for years for vaping to be regulated.
“Latest research shows a third of teenagers are now vaping, and we feel the same is going to happen here.”
Government slow to regulate nicotine use, says Power
Ms Power said the Government was slow to regulate nicotine use.
“The World Health Organisation called for restrictions on e-cigarettes in 2014, the first legislation brought in here in Ireland wasn’t until late 2023,” she said.
“That was just on the age, restricting the age and sale in temporary premises.
“We’re still waiting for legislation on e-cigarette flavours and marketing.”
She said that legislation that is currently being drafted needs to be broadened to include not just e-cigarettes, but also “pouches and any other products that come down the line”.
Nicotine brands have been making their presence felt at festivals, and with 80,000 people expected to attend Electric Picnic this weekend, Ms Power said that it was “crazy” that such events were being sponsored by nicotine brands.
Velo, a brand that sells nicotine pouches in a variety of strengths and flavours, is listed on the Electric Picnic website as a partner.
“We feel that it’s outrageous, frankly, that an event that so many young people will be attending, like Electric Picnic, is sponsored by a nicotine company that we banned,” said Ms Power.
“Ireland banned sponsorship by tobacco companies 25 years ago, and it’s crazy that in 2025 that you have music events, Electric Picnic is not the only one, there are a range of other festivals that were taking place this summer … with over half a million people attending them that have been sponsored by nicotine pouch companies.
“We feel that it’s wrong ethically. We would ask organisers to look at that themselves, but absolutely, government should change it now and make sure that it’s not possible,” she added.
