A new bill that aims to reduce youth alcohol consumption and the use of nicotine pouches is now open for public consultation in Denmark. The bill includes a number of initiatives, including a controversial ban on sweet nicotine pouches, which, however, will only come into effect later than other measures. Producers and stores will be allowed to sell their current stock of these products before the ban takes effect on July 1, 2025, according to a press release from the Ministry of Interior and Health.
While most of the new law is expected to come into effect from the new year, the delayed implementation of the ban on sweet nicotine pouches is planned to give the affected parties time to adjust their product range and sell off their remaining stock. The bill follows up on the political prevention agreement on nicotine and alcohol, which was reached last autumn. The agreement aims to encourage more young people to quit nicotine and reduce their alcohol consumption. Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde states that it is necessary to stop the increasing use of small nicotine pouches among young people.
“Therefore, we propose, among other things, to ban nicotine products with sweet flavors that appeal to children and young people, while also introducing limits on nicotine content,” she said in the press release. The bill also includes a ban on selling beverages with over six percent alcohol to those under 18 years of age and tightens regulations on electronic cigarettes to align with the same regulations as regular tobacco smoking.
Additionally, the Danish Safety Technology Authority and the Consumer Ombudsman will be authorized to issue administrative fines to retailers who do not comply with the law. The consultation period for the bill runs until August 19, after which it will be voted on in the Danish Parliament. The prevention agreement was signed by the government along with the Socialist People’s Party (SF), the Danish Democrats (Danmarksdemokraterne), the Conservatives (De Konservative), and the Alternative (Alternativet).