The use of smokeless nicotine products—commonly known as snus or nicotine pouches—has quietly become a significant trend in professional football, particularly within the Premier League. Once a Scandinavian curiosity, snus has found its way into the dressing rooms of England’s top clubs. But what exactly is it, why are so many players using it, and what are the consequences for their health and performance?

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What Is Snus?

Snus is a moist, smokeless tobacco product originating from Sweden. It’s typically placed under the upper lip, where nicotine is absorbed through the gum. Nicotine pouches, which look and feel similar, are tobacco-free alternatives that deliver the same nicotine hit without containing tobacco leaf.

Traditional snus is illegal to sell in the UK, but nicotine pouches are perfectly legal—and both can be bought online or abroad with relative ease. Neither is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, meaning footballers can use them without breaking any sporting rules.

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How Common Is It?

Recent research into professional football revealed that around one in five male players in the Premier League and English Football League currently use snus or nicotine pouches. Among female players in the Women’s Super League, the figure is slightly higher.

In practice, that means in any 25-man squad, five or six players may be using the product. It’s become so common that many insiders describe it as part of the locker-room culture. Players often talk about “having a pouch” before training, on the team bus, or even during recovery sessions.

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Why Do Players Use It?

The reasons players give for using snus or nicotine pouches vary, but a few themes emerge consistently:

• Relaxation and stress relief: Many players say it helps them unwind after intense matches or training sessions.
• Mental focus: Some believe the nicotine gives them sharper concentration and a calmer mindset before games.
• Team culture: Younger players often pick up the habit from older teammates; what starts as curiosity can quickly become part of the routine.
• Appetite control: A smaller number mention it helps suppress appetite and manage weight, particularly in the off-season.

In short, snus and nicotine pouches have become a social habit as much as a personal one—something shared between teammates in an environment where marginal gains and small rituals are part of daily life.

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Performance and Health Implications

From a sporting perspective, nicotine’s effects are complex. It’s a stimulant, so it can increase alertness and heart rate, but it also has calming effects that some players find useful before high-pressure games. However, there’s little reliable evidence that nicotine improves performance over time.

The health risks, on the other hand, are better understood. Tobacco-based snus has been linked to oral and gum disease, mouth lesions, and increased cancer risk. Even tobacco-free pouches can cause gum irritation and dependence. Regular users often report withdrawal symptoms—irritability, restlessness, and cravings—when they try to quit.

Medical teams within clubs have expressed growing concern about addiction and long-term health consequences. Because many players start using snus casually, they may not realise how dependent they’ve become until they try to stop.

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A Growing Cultural Issue

Snus use in football is no longer a secret—it’s part of the sport’s modern culture. Inside dressing rooms, it can be seen as harmless, even normal. But this normalization poses problems. When senior players use it openly, younger teammates are likely to follow suit.

Clubs have started to acknowledge the issue, but bans or punishments have proven ineffective. Instead, welfare teams are encouraged to offer education and support, treating snus use as a wellbeing concern rather than a disciplinary one.

The visibility of the habit also raises ethical questions. Should clubs or leagues do more to discourage it? Should players be role models in this area, especially given the influence they have on younger fans? These are debates now happening behind the scenes in many training grounds.

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What’s Being Done About It?

The Professional Footballers’ Association has begun taking the issue seriously, commissioning research and encouraging conversations around nicotine dependence. Some clubs have held workshops to educate players about the risks of nicotine use, while others provide one-to-one support for those trying to quit.

There’s also a growing call for academies to introduce early education about snus and nicotine pouches—helping young players understand the pressures and social dynamics that lead to use in the first place.

Beyond football, there’s a broader public health question: if elite athletes—symbols of health and discipline—are using nicotine products regularly, what message does that send to the next generation?

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The Bigger Picture

The story of snus in the Premier League is a snapshot of modern sport: a place where performance, pressure, and culture intersect. For many players, snus isn’t about rebellion or addiction—it’s about coping, bonding, or staying calm in an unforgiving environment. Yet beneath the surface, the habit carries real health implications and raises uncomfortable questions about athlete welfare and role-model responsibility.

Ultimately, this isn’t just a discussion about nicotine—it’s about how professional football supports its players. Education, open dialogue, and medical guidance are essential to ensure that what might seem like a harmless habit doesn’t become a hidden health issue in one of the world’s most high-profile sports.