South Australia becomes first state to ban nicotine pouches

The South Australian government has become the first state in Australia to ban the sale of nicotine pouches.

The pouches are small sachets packed with alarmingly high levels of nicotine, placed between the gums and lip, providing a quick hit. They come in a variety of flavours, mirroring the tactics used by banned illegal vapes to create a new generation of addicts.

A pouch can contain up to 120 milligrams of nicotine, significantly higher than the 6 to 20 milligrams found in a single cigarette. 

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"We have no idea what's in these products, they contain huge amounts of nicotine and they are directed at kids," South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton said.

The state government has now introduced an immediate ban on the sale of the products. 

Those caught selling them will face fines of up to $1.5 million.

The new illegal tobacco laws, introduced last year, have been designed to ban these types of new products as soon as big tobacco companies come up with them.

"This is not a nanny-state issue, this is making sure we have a healthy safe community," Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.