The government must urgently regulate the sale and marketing of nicotine pouches, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore said:
“Nicotine pouches are increasingly being used by teenagers across the country – they’re cheap, flavoured, and aggressively marketed to children.
“The product is widely available in corner shops with no age restrictions, packaging rules, or oversight.
“These products deliver a strong hit of nicotine and are being promoted directly to young people – schools are reporting serious issues with addiction and disruption, and despite repeated calls from the principals’ association, the HSE has yet to provide any guidance.
“As regulations tighten on vapes, the tobacco industry is shifting its focus to nicotine pouches, exploiting the lack of legislation to target a new generation.
“I’ve been raising this issue for nearly two years – we cannot afford to wait for Europe or for the problem to escalate further.
“The government must act now to ban sales to under-18s, restrict marketing, and stop companies from giving these products away for free.
“The Minister for Health and the HSE need to take immediate action to regulate nicotine pouches and support schools in tackling this growing issue.”
September 26th, 2025