White snus: Why are teens, Swedes and footballers getting hooked?

What in the World

• Episode: White snus: Why are teens, Swedes and footballers getting hooked?
• Website: What in the World
• Feed URL: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xtvrv.rss
• Duration: 00:10:58
• Published: 2025-05-15 15:30

More and more people are using snus. Maybe you’ve noticed this where you live: people walking around with circular plastic tubs in their pockets and slipping small white parcels into their gums? There are two types: brown snus and white snus. Brown snus has been around for a while, and contains tobacco, whereas white snus is newer and tobacco-free; it’s a nicotine pouch. Some of the biggest brands are Zyn, Velo and On! and they’re made by the big tobacco companies.

White snus is a booming market with “Zynfluencers” promoting it on social media. But it’s not only young people who are into it. According to one study in England, almost one in five professional male football players are using snus too.

BBC Health reporter Elena Bailey talks us through snus’s health impacts. Sweden has particularly high snus use among teenagers. According to Swedish government data, 27% of 15-year-old girls and 31% of 15-year-old boys have used it. Swedish radio journalist Matilda Skarehag explains why it’s so popular there. We also hear from Fanna Ndow Norrby who got addicted to snus.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Mora Morrison Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde