Denmark bans flavours and doubles taxes on nicotine pouches

A bill aimed at protecting young people plans to limit the attractiveness of nicotine products and to ban the sale of highly alcoholic beverages to minors. Nicotine pouches are particularly affected, with a ban on flavors and an increase in taxes.

With the aim of protecting young people, Sophie Løhde, Minister of the Interior and Health, announced a series of public health measures on 14 November 2023. These include restrictions on the marketing of nicotine pouches and the sale of alcohol to minors.

Focus on nicotine pouches

The minister notably announced two measures affecting nicotine sachets.[1]. One concerns the ban on attractive flavours in these products. Flavours are, in fact, a means for manufacturers to attract young consumers rather than meeting the expectations of smokers wishing to quit smoking.

The other measure is a doubling of taxes on nicotine pouches, which should lead to a significant increase in their price and bring it to the same level as cigarette packets.

Also called "nicotine pouches" in English, nicotine pouches are often confused with snus - tobacco pouches that are similar in appearance and consumption method. These nicotine pouches are placed between the gum and the lip, and deliver high doses of nicotine salts.

Restriction of alcohol sales to minors

At the same time, the minister announced a ban on the sale of drinks with an alcohol content of more than 6 % to young people aged 16 to 18. Previously, the purchase limit concerned drinks with an alcohol content of more than 16.5 %. At the age of 15, in Denmark, 22 % girls and 27 % boys drink alcohol on a weekly basis. A 2019 study also indicated that 40 % of young Danes aged 15-16 experience at least one drunken episode per month, compared to an average of 13 % for the rest of the European Union.

Half-hearted measures

Although essential, these measures appear relatively timid. The ban on the sale of drinks with more than 6 % of alcohol allows the sale of most beers, which the Nordic countries are fond of, to continue. Although less attractive, nicotine pouches will thus remain on sale over the counter, as will other new nicotine products.

The increase in taxes on nicotine pouches should affect minors, but will not affect snus, which is the subject of cross-border purchases and is sold illegally online. After a warning in 2012, the European Commission sued Denmark in 2014 for having continued the sale of snus on its territory, despite the ban on the sale of these products in the European Union (with an exception for Sweden). Condemned in 2015 by the European Court of Justice, Denmark finally banned its sale[2]The term "snus" was subsequently used in this country, particularly by young people, to designate the nicotine sachets which had taken over this market, which complicates the identification of the products actually used.[3]In Denmark, consumption of oral tobacco and nicotine products increased from 2.1% in 2010 to 11.4% in 2021.

For their part, the Netherlands is considering not only banning the sale of nicotine pouches, as Belgium has already done, but also banning flavourings in all e-cigarettes. In France, following the announcement of the upcoming ban on disposable e-cigarettes ("puffs"), the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT) and the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) are also calling for a ban on nicotine pouches and nicotine pearls.[4].

Keywords: Denmark, nicotine pouches, flavour ban, taxation

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[1] Zylm W, Denmark Raises Alcohol Purchase Age Amid Youth Drinking Concerns, BNN Network, published November 14, 2023, accessed November 16, 2023.

[2] Denmark loses snus case in European court, The Local, published July 17, 2015, accessed November 17, 2023.

[3] Vibjerg H, Youth and the Use of Nicotine Products, Tob. Prev. Cessation 2023;9(Supplement):A89 DOI: 10.18332/tpc/162727.

[4] The CNCT calls for regulating all commercial nicotine products and limiting their number, CNCT, published on November 14, 2023, consulted on November 16, 2023.