UK earns ‘A’ rating in European nicotine pouch access index

The UK has been ranked among Europe’s most accessible markets for nicotine pouches, scoring 60 out of 70 and securing an ‘A’ grade in the 2026 European Pouch Accessibility Index published by consumer group Considerate Pouchers.

The report assessed 29 jurisdictions, including the EU-27, the UK and Switzerland, on how their regulatory frameworks support or restrict access to nicotine pouches, which the organisation describes as an important harm-reduction alternative for smokers.

According to the index, countries achieving ‘A’ or ‘A+’ grades, including the UK, Norway, Bulgaria and Romania, provide a “consumer advantage” by applying proportionate regulation, maintaining flavour availability and allowing retail and online sales.

Juan Rafael Taborcía, global spokesperson for Considerate Pouchers, said nicotine pouches have become a “pivotal tool for public health” as Europe moves toward its smoke-free ambitions, but warned that regulatory approaches across the continent are increasingly divided.

“As time passes, the continent finds itself at a regulatory crossroads,” he said. “While nations like Sweden have embraced pouches to drive smoking rates toward historic lows, others are constructing legislative barriers that threaten to undo decades of progress.”

Sweden topped the index with a perfect 70-point score, reflecting what the report described as a “gold standard” regulatory model, including distinguishing pouches from tobacco and reducing taxes to encourage switching.

In contrast, several major EU markets including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania and Cyprus received failing grades due to outright retail and online bans. France also scored poorly despite a court-ordered pause on its ban, with the report arguing the market remains effectively closed due to restrictive interpretations of public health laws.

Spain was rated as an “edge case”, scoring 45 and receiving a ‘C’ grade amid proposed flavour restrictions and nicotine caps that the report claims could amount to a de facto ban.

The index uses a 70-point scoring system based on seven criteria, including product classification, flavour access, taxation, nicotine limits and retail and online availability.

Considerate Pouchers said its findings highlight the importance of risk-proportionate regulation, arguing that policies restricting pouch availability risk slowing progress on tobacco harm reduction.

“Innovation, not prohibition, is the way forward for a smoke-free Europe,” Taborcía added. “When states misclassify pouches as tobacco or ‘novel foods,’ they aren’t protecting children, they are protecting smoking rates by making it harder for pouchers to live healthier lives.”