Snus contains more and more nicotine and creates chaos among young people – who throw up at school from the new pills.
The Social Democrats want to put an end to that by introducing a maximum ceiling for the nicotine content.
– We want snus to be as snus has always been, says Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S).
Stronger varieties of snus are appearing. The so-called white snus can have 5-6 times more nicotine compared to a regular snuff. Now there are reports that the new doses have become popular among children and young people, which is creating chaos in the schools.
– We discovered that the students had spat in the corridors, in the toilets and even in the school bus. We thought it couldn’t be a stomach bug epidemic. Then we realized that it was the nicotine and tobacco in the new, stronger snus that was the culprit, said the principal of Tundalsskolan in Robertsfors, Anna-Lena Göttfert to SVT Västerbotten earlier this week.
A: “Before maximum ceiling”
Some who watch SVT Västerbotten are the Social Democrats and now they want to introduce a maximum ceiling on nicotine in snus.
– Today the CansCans Central Association for Alcohol and Narcotic Information released a report that points out that white snus is increasing and earlier this week there was this feature from Robertsfors that showed a trend in schools where children have been poisoned by snus, says Fredrik Lundh Sammeli, the Social Democrats social policy spokesperson.
According to Lundh Sammeli, the need for a ceiling on nicotine content – similar to what already exists for cigarettes and e-cigarettes – has not existed before. But in recent years, stronger snus varieties have sprung up like mushrooms. Now the party wants to start an investigation that will provide the answer to where the limit for nicotine content should go.
– This is about snus being what snus has always been. When there are now new forms that drag away in nicotine content, then it is not reasonable that it is unregulated. Then it is natural that a maximum ceiling is introduced.
Hoping for support above the block limit
Now the Social Democrats hope that the government will pick up on the idea, before it’s too late and a new generation of snuffers gets hooked on the stronger white snus.
– I hope so. I think it is important that we still meet the development in time when you see that stronger and stronger products are coming. Together, regardless of party, we have a responsibility to create responsible legislation around these products.
full screen
Next
Snuff in store.
1 / 2Photo: Claudio Bresciani / TT
When do you think a maximum ceiling like this could be in place?
– The government needs to take responsibility for that. I mean this is a wake up call with this extra strong snus coming.
The Minister of Social Affairs concerned about the development
Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD) has been asked by Aftonbladet if he supports the S proposal for a maximum ceiling on nicotine, he will respond via email through his press secretary.
“The increasing use of tobacco and nicotine products among children and young people is worrying and further measures must be taken to break this trend. It is clear that age limits are not respected. Therefore, it is now part of an investigative mission to review the issue of making it a criminal offense to sell or give tobacco and nicotine products to people under 18 years of age.”