Abstract
This Briefing presents evidence from new research on youth and young adults' awareness and use of oral nicotine pouches like “Zyn” in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also outlines young people’s views on the Government’s proposal to legalise their sale. Even though these products are not permitted for sale in Aotearoa, more than a third of youth and nearly half of young adults surveyed had seen or heard of them, and use increased among young adults between 2023 and 2024. In-depth interviews revealed that many young people were curious about nicotine pouches, driven by social media promotions and perceptions of lower harm compared to vaping. However, most did not support the proposal to legalise their sale, citing concerns about youth-targeted marketing and the risk of increased nicotine addiction among their age group.