Home Politics Europe UK MP Says Snus Should be Legalized Right Away

UK MP Says Snus Should be Legalized Right Away

Whilst referring to the success Sweden has had in reducing smoking rates via snus, conservative party mp David Jones, said the UK should “legalize it now.”

Diane Caruana

September 16, 2021

A bunch of swedish snus in a round container

The “fundamental problem with smoking is the smoke—the combustion”, not nicotine.

Snus is a moist powder tobacco product that is placed under the upper lip for extended periods. It is mostly popular in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, where it is legal and considered an effective tobacco harm reduction product. In fact, snus has not only led to Sweden boasting the lowest smoking rates in Europe, but more importantly, also to reporting the lowest rates of lung cancer across the continent.

Last August, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health Jo Churchill, was asked whether the UK government would consider conducting an assessment on the effectiveness of the ban on snus. “The Government will consider in due course reviewing the position on snus, and whether the introduction of this product onto the UK market would promote a proportionate approach to managing risks, one which protects the young and non-smokers, whilst giving smokers access to products which may reduce harm,” responded Churchill.

Snus should be included in new tobacco policy

Meanwhile Jones, a Tory MP, is the latest politician pushing for the UK to legalise snus following Brexit. A former Welsh Secretary, Jones has represented the Clwyd West constituency in the UK’s House of Commons since 2005. He recently organized a parliamentary debate on how the UK could reach its goal of a smoke-free society by 2030, and in article published in conjunction with the debate, Jones specified that snus should be included among alternative nicotine products included in new tobacco policy measures currently under review by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care.

“Snus has been banned by the EU, but has had a great impact on smoking levels in Sweden, where they managed an exception, so we should also legalise it now,” he wrote in an article published on ConservativeHome, as quoted by Snusforumet. “We must make sure these policies are grounded in science and give the seven million smokers in the UK the best possible chance at moving away from cigarettes for good.”

There should be a “price gap” between cigarettes and smokeless alternatives

In line with arguments by other experts, he went on to emphasize the importance of understanding that the “fundamental problem with smoking is the smoke—the combustion”, not nicotine. He added that taxes should be used to emphasize the difference between the products by increasing “the price gap” between combustible tobacco products and smokeless alternatives.

“The forthcoming tobacco control plan gives us the opportunity to take a fresh look at the new products and innovations in the UK, as well as those that we could have now that we have left the European Union,” Jones said during the debate.

Reed Further: Snusforumet