Snus is a form of tobacco that is somewhat rarer than other more conventional forms. It is a moist powder smokeless tobacco product whose modern version is based on a dry snuff variant widely used in 18th-century Sweden. Snus is used orally, it is placed in the upper lip where it will remain for prolonged periods of time. While this mode of usage makes it somewhat similar to dipping tobacco, commonly associated with North America, it is a different form or oral tobacco that is not fermented and does not require spitting. On top of that, snus is steam-pasteurized.
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However, as all tobacco products, snus contains nicotine, a highly addictive and harmful compound and as such, it is in no way safer alternative to cigarettes, although studies have shown that exact contents of snus, just like health risks, will vary depending of the exact type and brand of snus (where legal).
Is Snus legal in the UK?
The status of snus in the EU is rather confusing, and the same is true for the UK, despite the looming Brexit. Opting to leave Brexit speculations aside, here we would simply mention that neither possession nor consumption of snus is illegal in the UK, but its sale is. This ban on sales was introduced back in 1992, following the attempts US manufacturers of chewable tobacco to introduce snuff to the UK. While the campaign initially seemed like a success, it provoked an angry reaction both from the UK’s national health authorities and health campaign groups and NGOs. Faced with arguments that snus causes mouth cancer, the government responded by introducing the sales ban.
This resulted in an awkward legal position – while you cannot face consequences for owning snus, you cannot legally buy it nor import it into the country. This leaves a grey area – those who bring in small quantities of snus for personal use to the country can do so legally, at least technically.
In the grey area: Snus controversies
This awkward legal position of snus served as a fertile soil for many controversies and legal manoeuvres in the grey area. Some of those took place in the UK. From snus manufacturers bribing state officials in order to push for the change of legislation to companies trying to fake their way into the UK market, snus has generated a number of issues over the years.
However, not all of the schemes related to sales of snus in the UK were prevented by the state authorities. Through certain loopholes, some companies, such as Northerner Snus managed to sell snus-like chewing tobacco in the UK and continue to do so (as of time of writing this article).
Situations like these brought into question the will and determination of the UK authorities to fully prevent the sales of snus in the country, much to the dismay of health authorities and organisations.
What is the difference between snuff and snus?
Snuff first appeared among Europeans in the early 16th century. This pulverised tobacco was originally brought into France by Jean Nicot who famously recommended it as a migraine treatment to Catherine Medici. Of course, due to high nicotine content of snuff, Catherine became addicted and continued using snuff for the rest of her life. As a high-ranking member of aristocracy, she unwittingly influenced the upper-class citizens of 16th-century France as well as French court and using snuff became a kind of fashionable alternative to smoking tobacco.
Once the French court became infatuated by snuff, it was only a matter of time before other European courts followed the lead. From 17th century, it was also widely used in Swedish court, but at the beginning of 19th century, a moist form of snuff that became the new fad and that became known as snus (Swedish version of the word snuff). Ever since 1822 (when the first brand of European snus was registered), the usage of snus became a part of Swedish court culture and as such, it was transmitted to the modern day.
How is snus used? How is nicotine absorbed?
Snus is used rather simply, by placing a sachet in the upper or lower lip where it will remain for prolonged periods of time. The nicotine it contains is absorbed into the body through mucous membranes in the mouth. Some brands even add sodium carbonate to their snus in order to reduce the pH value of the tobacco and make it more susceptible to nicotine extraction during use.
What are snus-caused health risks?
While a commonly repeated myth claims that snus is a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco products, this is not true. Snus has also been known to cause severe health problems although sometimes of a different type as opposed to cigarettes, for example. So, while snus is unlikely to cause lung cancer – something that smoking is directly tied to – it is much more dangerous than cigarettes when it comes to different types of oral and pharyngeal cancer. If you are a snus user, we highly advise you to seek help in order to quit.
At the same time, the research conducted confirmed that snus is in fact somewhat more likely to cause cardiovascular problems as opposed to cigarettes.
