Consumers in Prague Call on Czech Leaders to Protect Pouches and Embrace Harm Reduction

Yesterday, the international consumer movement Considerate Pouchers brought its Protect Pouches campaign to Prague, gathering in front of the Ministry of Health to highlight the lifesaving potential of nicotine pouches and snus.

Advocates served coffee from a branded bike and spoke directly with citizens about harm reduction. Dozens of Czech consumers also wrote personal letters to local politicians, urging them to defend access to safer alternatives. These letters, including one from a Czech woman who credits nicotine pouches with helping her quit smoking after years of failed attempts with patches and gum, will be delivered to policymakers in the coming weeks.

Her story reflects a growing body of evidence. In Sweden, where nicotine pouches are widely available, smoking rates among women have fallen by nearly 50% since 2016, with pouches ranked 56% more effective than nicotine gum for female quitters. Surveys show that 60% of women cite flavour variety as a key reason for switching, and over one-third say they would seek pouches even if banned – clear proof of their role as the most powerful harm reduction tool today.

Juan Rafael Taborcía, Global Spokesperson for Considerate Pouchers, said:
“The Czech Republic stands at a crossroads. Sweden shows us that embracing nicotine pouches can accelerate smoking decline and save lives. But misguided restrictions risk pushing people back to cigarettes. Consumers are sending a clear message in Prague today: protect pouches, protect people.”

Local champions echoed this call.

“The Czech Republic is among the countries where new, safer nicotine products are replacing traditional smoking at the fastest rate. Unfortunately, despite these achievements and the stated commitment to practical tobacco harm reduction, we have seen no one at the ministry oppose proposals from other countries and the EU to ban or regulate nicotine pouches – even though, as experience from Sweden shows, they are the least harmful way to consume nicotine. We are concerned about whether the declared tobacco harm reduction stance is genuine or merely rhetoric.” – Said Petr Horáček, Chairman of Generace bez Kouře

The Protect Pouches campaign is rolling out across European capitals this summer to ensure policymakers hear from the very people most affected – consumers. As the EU debates new restrictions on nicotine pouches, Prague’s action demonstrates a simple truth: safer alternatives save lives, and consumer voices matter.