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| Extra-strong nicotine pouches packaged like children's sweets | Extra-strong nicotine pouches packaged like children's sweets |
| (1 day later) | |
| The nicotine pouches are being sold in packaging that looks like children's sweets | The nicotine pouches are being sold in packaging that looks like children's sweets |
| Extra-strong nicotine products designed to appeal to children – including some which have ripped off the logos of popular sweet brands – are being openly sold in shops, BBC Scotland has found. | Extra-strong nicotine products designed to appeal to children – including some which have ripped off the logos of popular sweet brands – are being openly sold in shops, BBC Scotland has found. |
| A Disclosure reporter, filming undercover, bought nicotine pouches which mimic the name and branding of the well-known "Millions" sweets in a shop in the east end of Glasgow. | A Disclosure reporter, filming undercover, bought nicotine pouches which mimic the name and branding of the well-known "Millions" sweets in a shop in the east end of Glasgow. |
| The shop worker who sold the pouches claimed they contained 100mg of nicotine, which would make them about 10 times the strength of a cigarette. | The shop worker who sold the pouches claimed they contained 100mg of nicotine, which would make them about 10 times the strength of a cigarette. |
| Tests later showed a lower level of 17mg, which would still be defined as extra strong by most legitimate manufacturers. | Tests later showed a lower level of 17mg, which would still be defined as extra strong by most legitimate manufacturers. |
| Trading Standards said they were concerned about products with a "worrying child appeal" as well as flavours and "eye-catching packaging" that mimicked sweets. | Trading Standards said they were concerned about products with a "worrying child appeal" as well as flavours and "eye-catching packaging" that mimicked sweets. |
| However, there is no law restricting the age of sale for nicotine pouches, so any child can legally enter a shop and buy the addictive products. | However, there is no law restricting the age of sale for nicotine pouches, so any child can legally enter a shop and buy the addictive products. |
| The pouches are small sachets that contain nicotine | The pouches are small sachets that contain nicotine |
| The pouches are small, pillow-like sachets that contain nicotine - a chemical found in tobacco which acts as a stimulant. | The pouches are small, pillow-like sachets that contain nicotine - a chemical found in tobacco which acts as a stimulant. |
| There are no restrictions on the strength of the nicotine in the pouches. | There are no restrictions on the strength of the nicotine in the pouches. |
| They are placed under the top lip, against the gum and deliver a nicotine hit which can be stronger than cigarettes or vapes. | They are placed under the top lip, against the gum and deliver a nicotine hit which can be stronger than cigarettes or vapes. |
| Some people use them as a way to quit smoking, though they are not recommended by the NHS. | Some people use them as a way to quit smoking, though they are not recommended by the NHS. |
| What are the potential side effects of nicotine pouches? | What are the potential side effects of nicotine pouches? |
| The pouches are significantly less harmful than cigarettes, and because chemicals do not enter the lungs, they may carry fewer risks than vapes. | The pouches are significantly less harmful than cigarettes, and because chemicals do not enter the lungs, they may carry fewer risks than vapes. |
| However, they can cause a variety of side effects including nicotine addiction, oral health issues and gastrointestinal problems. | However, they can cause a variety of side effects including nicotine addiction, oral health issues and gastrointestinal problems. |
| People may experience gum irritation and recession. The pouches can also lead to increased heart rate, blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. | People may experience gum irritation and recession. The pouches can also lead to increased heart rate, blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. |
| Kate Pike, from the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards, said it was "outrageous" that products were mimicking popular sweet brands in a bid to target children. | Kate Pike, from the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards, said it was "outrageous" that products were mimicking popular sweet brands in a bid to target children. |
| A BBC reporter, filming undercover, bought nicotine pouches with branding that mimicked sweets in a shop in Glasgow | A BBC reporter, filming undercover, bought nicotine pouches with branding that mimicked sweets in a shop in Glasgow |
| For the BBC Disclosure documentary Nicotine Pouches: What's the Problem?, a reporter was secretly filmed buying a tub of orange-flavoured Millions pouches for £7.50. | For the BBC Disclosure documentary Nicotine Pouches: What's the Problem?, a reporter was secretly filmed buying a tub of orange-flavoured Millions pouches for £7.50. |
| The shop worker who sold the product told her: "They're special." | The shop worker who sold the product told her: "They're special." |
| The product did not have all of the required hazard warnings, nor did it have traceable manufacturer details. | The product did not have all of the required hazard warnings, nor did it have traceable manufacturer details. |
| The design on the tub featured photos of the Millions sweets, made by Scottish confectionery manufacturer Golden Casket Ltd. | The design on the tub featured photos of the Millions sweets, made by Scottish confectionery manufacturer Golden Casket Ltd. |
| It told the BBC it had no connection to nicotine pouches and was "appalled" its branding was being used in this way. | It told the BBC it had no connection to nicotine pouches and was "appalled" its branding was being used in this way. |
| Another brand called "Candys", with pictures of gummy bears, was also for sale. | Another brand called "Candys", with pictures of gummy bears, was also for sale. |
| The makers of the Candys brand did not respond. | The makers of the Candys brand did not respond. |
| Ms Pike told the BBC: "Millions sweets are clearly a product for children and there is no reason to link them with nicotine pouches unless you want to attract children. | Ms Pike told the BBC: "Millions sweets are clearly a product for children and there is no reason to link them with nicotine pouches unless you want to attract children. |
| "If this was alcohol, there would be an outcry. A child coming across that would think it's for them and nicotine is a highly addictive substance. | "If this was alcohol, there would be an outcry. A child coming across that would think it's for them and nicotine is a highly addictive substance. |
| "Retailers should be more responsible for what they are offering in their communities." | "Retailers should be more responsible for what they are offering in their communities." |
| Prof Crawford Moodie, of the University of Stirling, has been researching the marketing of tobacco and nicotine products for years. | Prof Crawford Moodie, of the University of Stirling, has been researching the marketing of tobacco and nicotine products for years. |
| He said: "It makes you question what these companies are trying to do. I mean, clearly, they don't have consent to do that. | He said: "It makes you question what these companies are trying to do. I mean, clearly, they don't have consent to do that. |
| "But the fact that companies are putting these on the market and retailers are quite happy to sell them shows that we are not in a good place with respect to controlling the nicotine pouch market and protecting young people in particular. | "But the fact that companies are putting these on the market and retailers are quite happy to sell them shows that we are not in a good place with respect to controlling the nicotine pouch market and protecting young people in particular. |
| "There's very little in the packaging to tell you that they're not sweets and the potential for abuse and detrimental effects for young people are clearly there." | "There's very little in the packaging to tell you that they're not sweets and the potential for abuse and detrimental effects for young people are clearly there." |
| When contacted by the BBC, the retailer said it had now taken the Millions product off its shelves. | When contacted by the BBC, the retailer said it had now taken the Millions product off its shelves. |
| Alex said he had never tried smoking or vaping before taking nicotine pouches | |
| The Disclosure programme spoke to young people who said they had used pouches. | The Disclosure programme spoke to young people who said they had used pouches. |
| Alex started taking them two years ago when he was 15 in school and became addicted. | Alex started taking them two years ago when he was 15 in school and became addicted. |
| He said he had never tried smoking or vaping before. | He said he had never tried smoking or vaping before. |
| It was the packaging, how the different flavours were advertised and seeing his friends take the pouches, that made him want to try them himself. | It was the packaging, how the different flavours were advertised and seeing his friends take the pouches, that made him want to try them himself. |
| He said: "I think it was just something different. | He said: "I think it was just something different. |
| "It went from one a day to three a day to - at my highest - I was using probably 15 a day. | "It went from one a day to three a day to - at my highest - I was using probably 15 a day. |
| "If I didn't take them, I'd just get withdrawals and just feel demotivated and like I didn't want to do anything until I took another one." | "If I didn't take them, I'd just get withdrawals and just feel demotivated and like I didn't want to do anything until I took another one." |
| Nicotine pouches are currently unregulated and can be sold legally to under-18s. | Nicotine pouches are currently unregulated and can be sold legally to under-18s. |
| The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is going through the House of Lords but there are calls for government to speed up the legislation to shut down loopholes. | The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is going through the House of Lords but there are calls for government to speed up the legislation to shut down loopholes. |
| The bill will ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s and will restrict things like where they can be positioned in shops as well as limiting flavours, strengths, packaging and how they are advertised. | The bill will ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s and will restrict things like where they can be positioned in shops as well as limiting flavours, strengths, packaging and how they are advertised. |
| "We are receiving widespread reports from across the UK that these nicotine pouches are being sold to children," said Ms Pike, Trading Standards' lead officer for tobacco and vaping. | "We are receiving widespread reports from across the UK that these nicotine pouches are being sold to children," said Ms Pike, Trading Standards' lead officer for tobacco and vaping. |
| "Parents are getting in touch assuming we can take action and are shocked when we tell them we can't. | "Parents are getting in touch assuming we can take action and are shocked when we tell them we can't. |
| "At the moment it's perfectly legal and there's nothing we can do." | "At the moment it's perfectly legal and there's nothing we can do." |
| The BBC contacted several of the biggest manufacturers of nicotine pouches and all of them supported forthcoming legislation. | The BBC contacted several of the biggest manufacturers of nicotine pouches and all of them supported forthcoming legislation. |
| British American Tobacco said its pouches "should never be used by those under-age", manufacturer Philip Morris Limited said nicotine pouches had proved "hugely successful" for adults to quit cigarettes, and Japan Tobacco International said "minors should never use or access nicotine-containing products". |