Is Snus a Drug?

• The term ‘drug’ can have different meanings in scientific and legal contexts. 
• Neither snus nor nicotine are drugs in the legal sense. 
• Nicotine can be described as a drug in a broader scientific sense. 
• Traditional snus is illegal in the UK due to tobacco laws, not drug laws. 
• Nicotine pouches, which are tobacco-free, are legal to purchase for adults.

No, snus is not a drug under UK law. 

Tobacco-free snus is a nicotine product, similar to cigarettes and vapes. 

While nicotine itself can be described as a drug in a broad scientific sense, snus is not considered a drug under UK law. 

So if you’re asking: 

• Is snus considered a drug? → No 
• Is snus classed as a drug? → No 

The confusion usually comes from how broadly the word drug is defined.

In everyday language, the word ‘drug’ usually refers to illegal substances. 

In practice, the definition can be much broader. A drug can mean any substance that affects the mind or body, regardless of whether it is legal or illegal. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines drugs as:¹ 

“...substances that, when taken in or administered into one’s system, affect mental processes, e.g. perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions.” 

Under this definition, many legal substances–including caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine–could be described as drugs in a technical sense.

Whether nicotine is a drug depends on if you’re taking a legal or scientific perspective. 

Under UK law, nicotine is not classed as a drug, meaning an illegal substance:^{2, 3} 

• It is not regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which is the UK’s primary law for illegal drugs. 
• It is explicitly exempt from the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which was introduced to stop the spread of “legal highs”. 
• Nicotine products are legally available for purchase to adults.

Using WHO’s broader definition, nicotine can be described as a drug in a scientific sense because it affects the brain and nervous system. 

Some users report sensations of energy, relaxation, and alertness when using nicotine pouches, alongside snus side effects like mild gum irritation and dizziness.

Alcohol is another substance that is often described as a drug in a broad sense because it affects the brain and behaviour. 

In fact, WHO refers to alcohol as a “psychoactive substance”, meaning something that can affect the central nervous system and mental processes.⁴ 

However, alcohol is not classed as a controlled drug under UK law. Instead, it is regulated through age restrictions, licensing, and product safety rules.

It’s common to wonder if snus is legal in the UK. 

Tobacco-free nicotine pouches (which snus often refers to) are legal to buy in the UK. This is because they don’t contain tobacco. 

Nicotine pouches are currently regulated under General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tighten regulation in this area. 

Traditional snus does contain tobacco and is illegal to sell or market in the UK under tobacco legislation.  

Snus is legal in three countries in Europe–Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. Find out more about Swedish snus in the  article “What is Snus?”

Illegal drugs are substances that are banned under criminal law due to their potential for harm or misuse.  

In the UK, these substances are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. 

The legal restrictions on Swedish snus (which contains tobacco) are tobacco-related and are not due to drug classification.

So, is snus a drug? 

In legal terms, no. Snus (nicotine pouches) is a nicotine product which is legal to buy and sell in the UK. It is regulated as a consumer product or as a medicine, depending on how it is used. 

It can, however, be described as a drug in a broad scientific sense, due to its potential to influence mental processes.  

Understanding this distinction helps explain why snus and nicotine products are regulated but not classed as illegal drugs.