03/08/2025
GOVERNMENT MUST REGULATE SALE OF NI****NE POUCHES IN IRELAND
2/8/2025
The widespread sale of Ni****ne Pouches needs to be firmly tackled as they are openly accessible to young people and potentially pose some very serious health impacts.
Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín says
“This is an issue that we in Aontú are very concerned about as it is a matter of public health . My colleague Senator Sarah O’Reilly has been vocal on this issue ,asking that the Government looks at how other countries have either banned these products outright or severely restricted their sale.
Now the Minister for Health is on record as saying she wants them regulated but again I would like to see the concrete measures she is proposing towards this.
“These pouches were initially introduced as aids to help people stop smoking and are now readily available in certain retail outlets nationwide. Their low price point and ease of access naturally prove particularly attractive to younger individuals. While several European nations have enacted comprehensive bans or imposed strict regulations on the sale of these products, their sale in Ireland remains unregulated. In jurisdictions such as Australia and New Zealand, ni****ne pouches are prescription only.”
Unlike ci******es or vapes, they are not classified as to***co products, making their purchase so much easier. Many users are completely dependent on these pouches, which can be used discreetly anywhere. Over 7% of 15-16-year-olds have tried them, and awareness of them continues to grow according to ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) studies.
“The Irish Heart Foundation is calling for regulation or a potential ban. The indoor smoking ban introduced in Ireland in 2004 led to a steady decline in smoking rates and now we have the opportunity to build on this very positive development by regulating the sale of these pouches and take action to protect the health of our younger generation”.
“ I am all too aware of the highly addictive nature of ni****ne. People get hooked very, very quickly and I am really very concerned about the rising popularity of these pouches amongst young people. Their bodies and brains are just forming and so the dangers of using ni****ne are all the greater”.
“Ni****ne is a highly addictive substance with often detrimental health consequences. It can raise heart rate and blood pressure, cause stomach upset and gum irritation, and lead to other nasty side effects such as light-headedness and nausea. Of particular concern is the impact on brain development in young people, which can be seriously impaired by using ni****ne”.
“As smoking rates decline, major to***co companies are increasingly focusing on alternative products like ni****ne pouches to sustain their lucrative revenue streams and as we know they have huge budgets to market their products. I have seen one major brand of ni****ne pouches offering free samples in a very busy retail outlet. We all remember how ci******es for example were given out free at events and festivals in the 80’s so this is really no different. They may be ‘free’ initially but their usage is not without cost in terms of health”.
“Public health experts in this country have warned that the current lack of regulation leaves Ireland’s young and impressionable people highly vulnerable to the aggressive marketing strategies of multinational to***co companies. Advocacy groups, including the Irish Heart Foundation, stress that without urgent legislative action, a new generation risks becoming addicted to ni****ne through these seemingly innocuous pouches”.
“I commend my colleague Senator Sarah O’ Reilly for highlighting this issue and for her request of a firm commitment from the Government to address this issue and regulate these products without delay”.
