Considerate Pouchers today is issuing a warning regarding the Malaysian government’s latest move to restrict alternative nicotine products, cautioning that a heavy-handed ban will affect responsible adults seeking less harmful ways to consume nicotine.
The removal of legal, regulated choices for Malaysian consumers will inevitably fuel the black market and reverse years of progress in public health.
“The strength of products like vapes and nicotine pouches as non-combustible alternatives is that they allow people to quit smoking and live healthier lives while being considerate of those around them” said Juan Taborcía, Global Spokesperson of Considerate Pouchers. “By banning these options, the government isn’t making nicotine disappear. They are simply making it more dangerous by forcing users toward unregulated products or back to traditional smoking.”
Considerate Pouchers argues that the current proposal ignores the reality of harm reduction.
Rather than a total prohibition, we are calling for a common sense approach that prioritizes:
- Access to Information: Ensuring adults know the relative risks of different nicotine products.
- Quality Control: Keeping products in a regulated retail environment rather than underground.
“Prohibition is a 20th-century solution to a 21st-century reality,” continued Taborcía. “Malaysians deserve the right to choose harm reduction. We urge the Ministry to pivot toward sensible regulation that protects minors without punishing adults who are trying to make better choices for their lives and their communities.”
Considerate Pouchers remains committed to advocating for the rights of nicotine users who prioritize both their own wellbeing and the comfort of the public.