Pupils in primary and secondary schools will not be allowed to use nicotine during school hours. But the ban should also apply to all teachers and school staff. This is the opinion of Umeå University in its consultation response to the report "A safe childhood without nicotine, alcohol and nitrous oxide".
It was in March that the government inquiry "A safe childhood without nicotine, alcohol and nitrous oxide" was presented to the Minister for Social Affairs, Jacob Forssmed. Some of the proposals in the report were to limiting nicotine levels in nicotine pouches and snus, introduce a ban on distribution of nicotine products and a storage ban similar to that for alcohol.
"Nicotine-free school hours"
However, the investigator also proposed a fairly far-reaching ban on nicotine use among young people. According to the investigator, Parliament should introduce an outright ban on the use of nicotine by primary and secondary school pupils during school hours. This differs from current practice, where school grounds are covered by the general smoking ban, which also includes e-cigarettes. The nicotine-free school term would mean that pupils, even those who are 18 and can actually buy products such as nicotine pouches, e-cigs and snus, would not even be allowed to put a cigarette under their lips during lessons.
Teachers should not be allowed to use snus
Some respondents, such as The Snus Manufacturers Association and Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions dismisses nicotine-free school hours as counterproductive and difficult to control. However, one of the consultees, Umeå University, says the committee's proposal should be broadened and go even further. The ban should also apply to everyone on school premises, i.e. staff and teachers, says the university.
"It is positive that cigarettes, tobacco snuff and nicotine snuff are all covered by the bill. However, it would have been desirable for school staff to be covered by the bill, not just pupils", writes University in its consultation response.
According to Umeå unverisitet, this is the case in neighbouring Finland and that it would have been desirable in Sweden too.
Fish after flavour ban
Furthermore, Umeå University, through its Faculty of Medicine, says that another of the report's proposals - to ban additives such as vitamins, caffeine and taurine in nicotine products - is positive. But even here they want to go further. According to the authors, the legislation should, in some way, also affect different flavours.
"Clarification is needed, for example, on flavourings in electronic cigarettes and nicotine snus that are fruit, dessert and candy in nature, which can give the impression (especially to children and young people) that they contain vitamins and have reduced health risks," the university writes.
Swedish Parliament voted as late as 2022 no to banning flavourings in e-liquid, arguing that other interventions are sufficient to reduce use among young people.
Follow developments in Vejpkollen
Vejpkollen continuously follows the consultation responses received by the Ministry of Social Affairs regarding the report "A safe childhood without nicotine, alcohol and nitrous oxide". The consultation period ends on 30 August 2024.
Wise proposal! An institution that leads by example!
However, we are not talking about universities, but primary and secondary schools. Their own workplace is not affected.
When it comes to underage kids, it's one thing, and a bit of what parents might think their youngsters should avoid.
A big NO when it comes to adults, teachers etc... don't involve them in this. A bit strange that these (excuse the language) cursed anti-tobacco lobbyists should interfere in everything. That ADULT people should be able to decide this themselves? That some teacher sniffs, flares e-cigs or tobacco does not affect the damn teaching. Ridiculous.
There are many people who snuff tobacco and nicotine-free snuff, there is green tea and plant fibre from carrots in my "snuff", can you put it under your lip? Who will check it in that case?
A very good question!
No-one will be carrying out any 'lip checks' any more than there is any SA patrol going round checking that people are not vejping Iqos or e-cigs in the 'wrong' place outdoors :))
Ridiculous, of course no-one is going to do any "lip-checking", any more than there is any "vapour Gestapo" walking around checking that people are not vejping in some "forbidden" place outdoors :)