New York Proposes Ban on Flavored Nicotine Pouches Like Zyn
A new bill in the New York State Legislature aims to prohibit the sale of flavored oral nicotine pouches, following the state’s 2020 ban on flavored vape cartridges. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, targets the rapidly growing nicotine pouch market, particularly the popular Zyn brand.
Proponents of the ban argue that the fruit and candy flavors of nicotine pouches, along with their creative marketing strategies, are designed to attract and addict young users. Assemblywoman Rosenthal compared Zyn’s advertisements to historical cigarette commercials that depicted “a cool group of young adults at the beach having fun smoking cigarettes.”
The lawmakers also express concern that as flavored vapes become less accessible under New York’s existing ban, minors may turn to flavored nicotine pouches as an alternative. They point to studies linking nicotine use to various health issues, including narrowed arteries, high blood pressure, and impaired brain development.
Swedish Match, the Philip Morris International subsidiary that manufactures Zyn, maintains that the product is intended and marketed exclusively for adults aged 21 and older. The company emphasizes that it does not employ any of the social media influencers who promote Zyn online and that the vast majority of its customers are adults seeking a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products.
Brian Erkkila, Swedish Match’s director of regulatory science, noted that the flavors used in Zyn pouches have been present in smokeless tobacco products like moist snuff and dip for decades, suggesting they are not designed to appeal specifically to youth.
In a significant development, the FDA recently authorized the sale of 10 Zyn flavors, marking the first time the agency has endorsed the public health benefits of any nicotine pouch brand. The FDA determined that while no tobacco product is entirely safe, Zyn pouches provide a less risky alternative to cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco.
The agency also found that youth use of Zyn has remained low, with just 1.8% of U.S. middle and high school students reporting use of nicotine pouches in a 2024 survey. Some experts argue that this low rate of youth adoption, coupled with the potential benefits for adult smokers, makes a ban on flavored pouches an overreaction.
- Canada Delays Vape Flavor Ban Amid Smoking Cessation Evidence - February 12, 2025
- New York Proposes Ban on Flavored Nicotine Pouches Like Zyn - February 12, 2025
- Michigan Recalls THC Vapes Over Potential Lung Harm Risk - February 12, 2025
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