Nicotine pouch rise is driven by young men, study finds
December 17, 2025 by bbc.com
Nicotine pouch rise is driven by young men, study finds
A study found that young men are driving the increasing popularity of nicotine pouches in the UK, with 7.5% of 16 to 24-year-old men using them compared to 1.9% of young women. Many users also smoke or vape, and some are using pouches to quit smoking. Nicotine pouch sales have significantly risen in recent years, particularly among young men due to aggressive marketing tactics. The pouches contain synthetic nicotine and are marketed in colorful tins. Researchers call for more research on their effectiveness in smoking cessation. The study surveyed 127,000 people from 2020 to 2025. Recommendations include banning sales to under 18s.
11.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 6.7 million current smokers in United Kingdom 13.60% of men are current smokers but only 10.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
