Consumers turn to nicotine pouches to cut smoking harm—survey
Published Jan 16, 2026 04:30 pm
Most consumers use nicotine pouches, a smoke-free alternative, to reduce the harm from smoking, according to a Spanish study.
Nicotine pouches are smoke-free products that deliver nicotine by placing a small pouch between the gum and upper lip. They do not contain tobacco leaf and produce no smoke or vapor.
The Spanish report, "Regulation of Nicotine Pouches," by the Tholos Foundation in collaboration with Dynata, presents findings from a consumer survey conducted in Spain in March 2025. The survey included 515 current users of nicotine pouches.
The survey found that two-thirds of Spanish nicotine pouch users turned to them to quit smoking, and 84 percent oppose the government's proposed restrictions, such as limiting nicotine to 0.99 mg/pouch and banning flavors except tobacco.
Some experts, including psychiatrist Karl Fagerström, support nicotine pouches as effective harm reduction tools, noting that pure nicotine is less harmful than tobacco consumption. They cited Sweden’s success with similar strategies in reducing smoking rates.
If new regulations are implemented, one-third of respondents said they would turn to illicit purchases, while another third would return to smoking.
The Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP) welcomed the survey results by international consultancy Dynata, which showed two-thirds of Spanish consumers use nicotine pouches to lessen the harm from smoking cigarettes.
“Results of this survey emphasize the potential public health impact of nicotine pouches, and the need for regulations that embrace a harm reduction approach instead of outright bans,” NCUP president Anton Israel said.
Israel said this supports the tobacco harm reduction (THR) approach, which involves using less harmful alternatives such as vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches to mitigate smoking risks.
He said these innovative, smoke-free products eliminate combustion, resulting in far lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful substances compared to cigarettes.
Israel also noted that nicotine is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases, as most harmful chemicals are produced by the burning process.
He said even the National Health Service in the UK stated specifically in its website that “while nicotine is a highly addictive drug, it does not contain toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, including tar and tobacco.”
The NCUP said the results of the Spanish study reflect growing awareness of the effectiveness of nicotine pouches in helping smokers quit.
Israel noted that Sweden, which has the lowest smoking rate in Europe, achieved this feat with the help of nicotine pouches and their predecessor, snus. He said the Philippines, where nicotine pouches are also regulated, should view the Spanish study's results as compelling evidence that cigarette alternatives can help reduce smoking rates.
He also warned that prohibition or restriction could only force consumers to look for alternatives in the black market, where standards and taxation are not enforced.
“Consumers should be given a choice to choose products that are less harmful to their health,” he said.
Israel also cited scientific studies showing that smoke-free alternatives contain 95 percent fewer harmful chemicals than those found in cigarette smoke.