The debate around nicotine pouches often overlooks a basic scientific point: not all nicotine products carry the same level of risk. The harms of smoking are driven primarily by combustion, the process of burning tobacco, which produces smoke, tar, carbon monoxide, and thousands of harmful chemicals. Nicotine pouches do not burn tobacco and do not create smoke, making them fundamentally different from cigarettes.

This factsheet brings together evidence on toxicology, nicotine delivery, switching behaviour, Sweden’s experience, women’s health, environmental impact, and regulation. It shows that while nicotine pouches are not harmless and should remain strictly adult-only products, their risk profile is substantially lower than that of combustible cigarettes.

For public health policy, this distinction matters. Regulation should be strong enough to prevent youth uptake and ensure product quality, while still allowing adult smokers access to lower-risk alternatives. Treating all nicotine products as though they carry the same risk does not reflect the evidence and may undermine opportunities to reduce smoking-related harm.