No more sneaking cigarettes in the toilets at recess. Has-been, too visible, too odorous, too expensive and hounded by the law, the little tube of tobacco is no longer popular. But tobacco manufacturers are not giving up on their teenage customers, whom they always seek to retain. And while the debate on the ban on puffs, disposable electronic cigarettes, arrives in the Assembly, other nicotine-based products are already circulating.
This Wednesday, the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) recommended a ban on nicotine sachets and beads, which particularly target a young audience, and a more general tightening of the regulations governing new nicotine-based products. The CNCT notes that “certain oral products, such as nicotine sachets and pearls, escape regulation” on tobacco advertising, “a loophole widely exploited by manufacturers who use aggressive marketing strategies to market these products with targeting of youth “.
21% of 13-16 year olds know about the existence of nicotine pearls
The association “notes the regular appearance of new nicotine products” and “systematically notes widespread infringements in terms of advertising” to which “is added marketing at points of sale and online”. Advertisements which “are intended to keep the consumer addicted to nicotine and above all to recruit new users”, deplores the CNCT, estimating that “the development and marketing of these numerous products are thus mainly driven by the availability of attractive aromas directly targeting adolescents”.
A finding which is consistent with a BVA survey published Tuesday by the Alliance Against Tobacco, according to which 21% of young people aged 13 to 16 have heard of nicotine pearls such as Nicopop and 19% of nicotine sachets such as Nicopouches or LYFT. The study was carried out online from August 29 to September 6 with a representative sample of 1,000 adolescents aged 13 to 16. Although its marketing is prohibited in Europe (apart from Sweden and Norway), 7% of 13/16 year olds say they have already used snus (bag of tobacco or nicotine to suck), a proportion that has increased since last year. , notes the Alliance Against Tobacco.