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The concept of nicotine pouches has seen a mixed response from the public and experts alike.��

Posts have been making the rounds on social media, influencers promoting flavoured products such as “zyn”, “buff”, and “ace” as a method to quit smoking and vaping.��

Public health experts are concerned, Sydney University’s Becky Freeman saying that the “wellness” influencers who promote these products are often unclear that its sponsored content.��

Freeman said that the pouches are being pushed without reliable knowledge as to what their benefits are.��

On the other hand, Action for Smokefree sees the pouches as another tool in the toolbox for helping kiwis kick their smoking habits.��

Director Ben Youdan says there’s a place for more products to get people off of the most harmful nicotine product: the cigarette.��

The sale of nicotine pouches was banned in New Zealand by the Labour Government in 2020, but importing from overseas remains legal as long as they are not sold on.��

Nicotine pouches consist of a small mesh bag of vegetable powder, over which concentrated nicotine was dripped. They were banned alongside snus, a similar product containing tobacco.��

Dylan, a caller on ��һ�ǿ�����talk ZB’s Marcus Lush Nights, agrees with the second opinion, saying that by recommending them the pouches, he got three full-time smokers to quit.��

He’s been using pouches for three to four and a half years and told Marcus Lush that these have probably been the best thing for his smoking addiction.��

“I went from smoking to vaping, and then to these just because vaping is not... I don’t think it’s a good thing.”��

In the past, Dylan was able to get the nicotine pouches from his local dairy, but due to the ban now has to import them from Sweden.��

While he used the pouches to ween himself off smoking and vaping, he revealed that he’s happy with his continued use of the pouches.��

“One day, if I feel the need to get off it, I can, but yeah, at this stage I’m quite happy taking them.”��

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