Warsaw, Poland – A newly released survey conducted by the international polling firm Dynata reveals overwhelming opposition among Polish consumers to the government’s proposed ban on flavored nicotine pouches. The findings highlight the essential role of flavors in helping individuals quit smoking and avoid relapse. The full results from the research may be downloaded here.
According to the survey, 9 in 10 users of nicotine pouches oppose a flavor ban, with more than two-thirds strongly opposing it. Furthermore, 85% state that flavors, which this proposal seeks to ban, are a key factor in their decision to use nicotine pouches as an alternative to smoking. Among the flavors, over half of nicotine pouch users opt for fruit (54%) and two out of three people (66%) credit mint/menthol as the most effective flavor in helping people switch and stay away from cigarettes.
“These findings underscore what public health experts have long understood, flavors help smokers trying to quit,” said Tim Andrews, Director of Consumer Issues at the Tholos Foundation, who has commissioned the poll. “By removing flavors, policymakers risk either to boost the black market or to push people back to cigarettes.”
The survey revealed that if the proposed flavor ban were enacted, one-third of users would attempt to obtain nicotine pouches through online or cross-border purchases, while another third would return to smoking. Only 6% indicated they would quit nicotine use entirely which indicated an inefficiency of the ban.
Additional findings reinforce the public’s support for the recognition of the role of these products in reducing smoking rates. Two-thirds of nicotine pouch users in Poland cite health-related reasons as their primary motivation for using these products, mainly to reduce smoking. Moreover, 9 of 10 users do not support a nicotine pouch ban.
The Tholos Foundation urges policymakers to reconsider the proposed ban and instead adopt a science-based approach that acknowledges the role of flavors in harm reduction. Preserving access to flavored nicotine pouches can help smokers switch and stay away from cigarettes and ultimately improve public health outcomes.