This weekend sees the premiere of 'You don't know nicotine' - a documentary about nicotine and its role in the world. It pits fear and myths against research and uncomfortable truths.
"This is a movie about hope, really" says director Aaron Biebert.
It took Aaron Biebert and a team of 30 people over two years to gather material and complete the documentary "You don't know nicotine". Due to Covid-19, the premiere was postponed. But this weekend, the film will be released on the streaming site Ibex. And it is a long-awaited premiere. Not least because of the debate on nicotine that has flared up in recent years.
"Nicotine is a tough topic. We interviewed over 200 people to build the foundation for the movie. And we learned a lot. What is nicotine, how does it work and what does the research say? We approached the topic from an objective and neutral perspective. We are looking for the truth here, the facts about nicotine. Not hearsay and myths" says director Aaron Biebert in a live broadcast via Facebook.
A different view of nicotine in Sweden
Sum Vejpkollen has previously told us about Sweden, which, due to the widespread use of snus, has a slightly different relationship with nicotine compared to the rest of the world. Sweden has an important role in the movie, says Aaron Biebert.
"The issue of nicotine's health risks is becoming synonymous with the health risks of smoking in most countries. In Sweden, things have been different, both in terms of research and public policy," says Aaron Biebert.
Uncertainty about nicotine a weapon
"You don't know nicotine" premieres at a time when the debate about nicotine reflects myths, concerns, money and uncertainty. At the same time, over a billion people use nicotine, daily, in one way or another.
"For some, the debate on nicotine is about spreading and reinforcing myths. Insecurity is used as a kind of weapon. It's really unpleasant. It just ends up with no one trusting anything and few actually knowing what it's about." says Aaron Biebert.
Alternative delivery methods are important
And that is worrying, says Aaron Biebert. Especially as nicotine has an important role to play in smoking cessation, for example. Alternative technologies, such as e-cigarettes and snus, can play an important role for today's smokers.
"Many people talk about nicotine in a way that can have devastating consequences. It's often about shaming people who use it. And ultimately, that can have harmful consequences," says Aaron Biebert.
"We want to educate - not fight"
He also stresses that the film is not a weapon in the fight for alternative nicotine products, or anything else.
"For me, the key word in the movie is "hope". We are not fighting. We want to educate. The science and research around nicotine is a central part of the film, but it's also a kind of travel documentary. We move all over the world. And ultimately, we want to show that what we know about nicotine doesn't have to be based on uncertainty - but on clear science.
