Inside the football snus epidemic – ‘half of players’ are hooked, so what are the health risks?

THE use of tobacco-free nicotine pouches among professional footballers has skyrocketed in recent years.

And with new smoking and vaping legislation on the horizon, these small packages are already increasing in popularity among Brits - but what health issues do they pose?

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The rise of nicotine use in football shocked fans earlier this year after a survey found one in five players were currently using nicotine pouches, often referred to as 'snus'.

Snus and nicotine pouches are different products, but both placed between the gum and the lip or cheek to release nicotine into the bloodstream.

Snus is a smokeless tobacco product that originated in Sweden but became illegal to sell in the UK in 1992.

Nicotine pouches, which are tobacco-free, became a popular alternative.

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Leicester striker Jamie Vardy is among players who admitted using nicotine pouches to "help him chill out" and was pictured carrying it at Euro 2016.

But its presence has left some older professionals unimpressed.

Ex-Birmingham and WBA star Paul Robinson said previously: “You see pouches on changing room floors and training ground corridors.

“It’s not a good look - players can’t even be bothered to bin them.”

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Goalkeeper Ben Foster also highlighted the issue on his Fozcast podcast saying: "Jesper Olson at West Brom loves his snus.

"Now I reckon 40 or 50 per cent of players are doing it.”

A study earlier this year by Loughborough University, commissioned by the Professional Footballers' Association, surveyed 628 male players.

A total of 18 per cent said they currently use snus while 42 per cent said they had tried the substance at least once and almost half said they would like to quit.

Report author Dr Daniel Read said: "One of the stories that comes out is the regret of players starting (to use snus), not recognising how addictive these products are and then the difficulty they have had quitting."

Nicotine pouches 'not fully understood'

Nicotine pouches sit in the mouth for 20 minutes, releasing nicotine through the gums.

They're advertised as a safer alternative to cigarettes or vaping because they don't contain the carcinogens or metals found with traditional e-cigarettes and are not inhaled.

But , senior lecturer in clinical biochemistry/toxicology at the University of Derby, said their nicotine content should still be cause for concern.

He said: "As nicotine pouches and strips are new products, the long-term human health impact is still not fully understood.

"But nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet and has considerable biologic activity and is known to be harmful to lungs, heart and kidneys and the immune system.

"Other minor side-effects include irritation of the gums, tooth decay, mouth sores and nausea."

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Nyree Whitley, chief clinical officer at , said while nicotine pouches may seem a good alternative to vaping, they can have a detrimental effect on oral health.

She warned: "It’s a common misconception that smokeless forms of nicotine come with less risk.

"By holding the pouch against your gums for extended periods of time, the risk of developing gum disease and tooth loss is much higher than in those who don’t use nicotine-based products.

"More common side effects of nicotine pouches may include gum irritation, receding gums, yellowed or stained teeth, and ulcers.

"If gum disease has already become apparent as a result of nicotine pouches, it may be more difficult to reverse these side effects, but if you are concerned about your oral health as a result of consuming nicotine-based products such as nicotine pouches, contact your dentist for tailored advice and support.”

Dr Ali also shared a couple of important points: "Currently safety studies on these new products are very limited even compared with those for snus.

"As these products are technically categorised as smokeless tobacco, they are not regulated as vigorously as smoked tobacco products, e-cigarettes or snus.

"Additionally, it is important to state that there is no evidence to support that nicotine pouches are effective as a cessation tool."

It comes as MPs are set to vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill today, which the health secretary has called an "urgent intervention" to help children "avoid a life imprisoned by addiction".

The bill aims to tackle the sale of nicotine products "deliberately targeted at children".

It would see a total ban on vape advertising and prevent anyone born after 2009 from buying tobacco legally.

The Government are also cracking down on disposable single-use vapes, with new legislation set to ban their sale from June 2025.

It says vape usage in England grew by more than 400 per cent between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1 per cent of the British public now buying and using these products.

Meanwhile, new statistics from University College London show that around 2.2 million people who were smoking a year ago are now vaping.

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In 2013, e-cigarettes were used in 27 per cent of quit attempts, while in 2024 they were used in 41 per cent of them.

With so many Brits now addicted to nicotine, it might not be long before the Government need to address these small but mighty pouches, too.