VIDEO. Sucking tobacco: banned in France, snus appeals to the youngest

You may have come across videos of people showcasing these colorful boxes, sometimes associated with famous brands of drinks or candy, while browsing Snapchat or TikTok. With snus inside, these wet tobacco sachets to slip between the gum and the lip. “We have a bit of everything there, the basic mint, but also the eucalyptus one or this other with a chewing gum flavor”, lists Marius, presenting the boxes he bought.

Banned in France and so far consumed in restricted circles, this very popular product in Sweden is appealing, especially through social networks, where videos extolling it are multiplying. “The danger of this product is that it is aimed at young people as a gateway to tobacco, warns Loïc Josseran, doctor and president of the Alliance against tobacco. We start with that, and after a while we end up with tobacco and all the problems behind it. And that’s what happens to Lotus, a regular snus user. “I’m addicted,” she admits, even though she had never smoked before starting to use chewing tobacco.

Although nicotine is not recognized as a carcinogen, it nevertheless causes addiction. However, the tobacco industry denies targeting the youngest. “There is an evolution in the way we can consume nicotine. There are other ways to consume it more responsibly. We target smokers! », Assures Pascal Marbois, communications director of British American Tobacco (BAT) France, one of the world heavyweights in the tobacco sector.