According to a report from The Globe and Mail on November 14, Canadian anti-smoking advocates are urging the federal government to restrict the sale of the recently approved flavored nicotine product called “Zonnic” by the Ministry of Health. They have issued a warning stating that this product is being marketed and directly sold to children and adolescents.
Imperial Tobacco Canada, a subsidiary of British-American Tobacco, recently launched a nicotine pouch product called “Zonnic” in Canada. Each pouch contains four milligrams of nicotine and is designed to be placed under the user’s lip.
However, anti-tobacco advocates are urging the federal government to restrict the sale of this product, or even suspend its sale altogether, in order to prevent underage individuals from purchasing it, given its increasing popularity and young user base in multiple countries, including the United States.
The open sale of Zonnic nicotine pouches in convenience stores and gas stations is causing concern about its impact on minors, despite being positioned by the company as an “adult tobacco alternative.
Anti-smoking groups, including the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Doctors for Tobacco Control, are urging the government to take immediate action by implementing prescription-only sales for nicotine pouches. They are also calling for a suspension of approvals for similar products unless they too are subject to prescription-only sales.
British American Tobacco has identified nicotine pouches, which it refers to as “modern oral,” as an important area for growth. During a meeting in September, Kingsley Wheaton, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at British American Tobacco, expressed excitement about the future development of the company’s modern oral products.
