Would this happen if a global icon endorsed it? Would you like it to happen? I can’t make my mind up on either score.

Kinda like that vaping now. Now its looking to get regulated too and some areas are already banning it… Got too famous? But it would be nice to have more general knowledge of snuff, so as not to look like coke heads sniffing.

I think it is VERY slowly becoming mainstream. I think it’s gotten a tiny bit of promotion indirectly through people getting into e-cigs and looking at tobacco harm reduction more generally. It definitely seems like more people I meet have heard of nasal snuff than they had two years ago. But that might just be a factor of the sort of people I’ve been meeting lately.

I really don`t know, cause we over here in the U.S.A. is so anti tobacco. I would like to see it become more mainstream.

I’m not sure I would. Don’t want the taxman or the hysterical ‘anti’ lobby getting their teeth into it.

I agree with @Thunderbird‌ as soon as it becomes main stream then (especially here in the UK) the tax man will see it as another revenue. Currently I think Snuff is a relativly cheap. If it got the same tax as say cigarettes then that would change everything

Here in Japan the middle-aged gossips love to shake their heads and cluck their tongues at things they don’t understand. So it seems better to fly under the radar. As soon as they figure out there’s a “new” (actually ancient) way to enjoy tobacco, I fear they’ll set out to ban it, or heavily tax it. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean you’re wrong. . .

As long as snuff taking has enough followers to keep all the snuff makers in business I am fine with that.

Thanks for your comments. People see me snuff and say what’s the point of that. I ask, do you smoke? They say yes, and i return the question. I agree with you folks. Keep it under the radar. Familiarity breeds contempt.

Here in Japan the middle-aged gossips love to shake their heads and cluck their tongues at things they don’t understand. So it seems better to fly under the radar. As soon as they figure out there’s a “new” (actually ancient) way to enjoy tobacco, I fear they’ll set out to ban it, or heavily tax it. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean you’re wrong. . .

Couldn`t agree more. Governments will always look for another source of income and new forms of taxes are easy pickings.

I guess you might get some more interesting artisan snuffs out there if it became more popular. Or maybe it would become heavily regulated (“What do you mean you’re adding VANILLA to the snuff?! Have you done extensive, five-year, multi-group longitudinal studies to establish that the insuffulation of VANILLA doesn’t cause appendicitis?!”). Probably will become more popular, but whether I like it or not doesn’t really seem to be the issue. I say stock up with as much bulk supplies as you can get now while the going is still good.

I don’t think it will become mainstream, hasn’t in all these years and many people that i have come across (who have asked what snuff is and who smoke cigarettes) don’t seem to want to try and carry on smoking. Basically loads of people don’t seem to like the idea of sticking a powder in their noses.

Surely it already is ‘mainstream’ if you look at eastern Europe, Germany etc? Can’t see it picking up in places like the UK, or if it does it will be a very slow process. Inability to promote\\advertise means it will be word of mouth, and therefore slow. Also, I see no tax rises coming, some on here obsess about bans and tax rises. Governments don’t ban things if you bother to think about it. Same with tax, (uk anyway) VAT is already levied, how could more be added? Let’s face it, snuff is a minority pursuit, off the wall interests always attract a fair few cranks, and these are the people who obsess about governments, bans, taxes, surveillance etc etc.

Sounds like a statement issued on behalf of the good old government @Hoffwell If they find out how well it goes with vaping then it’s definitely going to get a hard time from the Nanny State Department!!! I wouldn’t trust the government “experts” or policy makers, given their record. I think it’s reasonable to be extremely cynical.

The United States banned flavoring in cigarettes cause it was supposedly marketed to children. Children my ass. They were twice the price of Camels. I doubt any children were paying that much for cigarettes. They were stealing them from their parents and, then buying what their parents had when they come of age. I have seen too many blogs and, what not damning E Cigs for the same reason. Toque’s flavors for America would be cut down to plain and, menthol. No Vanilla, Christmas pudding, or even the most awesome Spanish Gem! Point is if we are having fun they feel you better stop it right now.

Also, I see no tax rises coming, some on here obsess about bans and tax rises. Governments don’t ban things if you bother to think about it. Same with tax, (uk anyway) VAT is already levied, how could more be added? Let’s face it, snuff is a minority pursuit, off the wall interests always attract a fair few cranks, and these are the people who obsess about governments, bans, taxes, surveillance etc etc.

I’m guessing your a Gov employee from your comments. Goverments don’t ban things…??? What? These days its more whats not banned. Oh, and thanks for insinuating that a bunch of members of this forum are “cranks”. Call me a crank too since over the course of my life i have seen governments ban and increase taxes and anything remotely fun. Let’s face it, blah, blah, blah, your comments were pretty rude.

@BigNose I stand by what I said, it is my opinion, and I am entitled to it. Insults, calling me rude because you don’t agree is the mark of a poor debater. Also, I’m not a government employee. Just a regular worker fed-up of internet paranoia and conspiracy theories directed at anyone with any percieved strength - be it government or industry.

No insult was given. Calling your comment rude is descriptive of your comment, nothing more. You on the other hand called anyone who doesnt agree with your opinions re the Government “cranks” which is an insult. (BTW are we all entitled to our opinions or just you?) I can see your new to this whole debating thing so lets leave it at that and stop the insults hey.

Do I want snuff to become mainstream? Hell no! Just look at what happened to snus…enough said

“If it can happen to Whisky it can happen to snuff.” And knowing the UK government would for us here…

@Hoffwell‌, I won’t comment on rude, but I think your statement is just wrong. Governments don’t ban things? Weed, steroids, various food additives, and many etceteras. Taxes on top of VAT? The tax on tobacco in Australia is something like $700 a kilo! And, for that matter, the retail sale of snuff is banned. And looks like vaping is going to be banned. These things aren’t opinion, they are facts.

Snuff has always been in the mainstream. It’s all those who don’t enjoy snuff that are out of step.

I wonder what the ISTA (International Snuff Takers Association) would have to say about this topic. Is promoting snuff use part of the purpose of that group? It seems to me that it is, as I recall. It also seems to me, now that I think about it, that we don’t see much of some the ISTA members on snuffhouse these days. But I could be wrong on this of course.

Shaman has been on lately but, not posting. Just observing. Waiting for his chance to spring into action with his deadly hawk of righteousness that will peck out the eyes of the non believers!

Oh. I guess it has been a while it says now. May 31st. I stand by my comment though. With the springing and, hawks gouging out eyes.

Vivid imagination there @Igglet LOL. Terrifying. We’d better all be good then.

Kinda like that vaping now. Now its looking to get regulated too and some areas are already banning it… Got too famous? But it would be nice to have more general knowledge of snuff, so as not to look like coke heads sniffing.

Even if my area bans vaping I’ll just break the law. I’m so tired of business men, donations, and corruption influencing the laws. Every man should be able to choose his own path if it doesn’t conflict with another. They already tried to ban it in America and it failed. They’ll try again but legality never stopped me before ( with what I deem to be " stupid laws " that conflict with my constitutional rights. ) Yes some laws save lives, others intrude on them Will snuffing become mainstream? Probably not… And I like it this way. Too much attention to our product can be bad. I don’t like change. Plus most people find putting tobacco up the nose sort of passé. More for me

If snuff were to become mainstream, you might as well empty out your 401(k) or whatever savings you have because it will get expensive. Next thing you know Toque will cost as much as Abraxas. Oh heeeeeeeell no.

Would this happen if a global icon endorsed it? Would you like it to happen? I can’t make my mind up on either score.

The reason its £1.90 for 25g is because its quite underground (in the UK) and most people today don’t even know what it is, and that’s the best way to keep it. Originally in England snuff was for the aristocracy, the select few, a luxury product…today those who seek it in England will find it. If it went main stream there would be to many governing bodies people trying to regulate it with all the health warning bullshit and prices would rise. P.s many famous faces do use snuff, but finding out who they are is another matter. Steven Fry is a snuffer who did a tour of the US in his black cab on TV

OH btw, because of the high use of cocaine, MDMA, speed etc in the UK snuff would never become mainstream again because every time you take a snuff in public everyone around you thinks your doing the above

I want snuff to stay niche and off the radar too for all the reasons already posted here.

I don’t think most women will embrace anything that causes them to blow brown snot into a tissue or hankie, on any regular basis.

Surely it already is ‘mainstream’ if you look at eastern Europe, Germany etc? Can’t see it picking up in places like the UK, or if it does it will be a very slow process. Inability to promote\\advertise means it will be word of mouth, and therefore slow. Also, I see no tax rises coming, some on here obsess about bans and tax rises. Governments don’t ban things if you bother to think about it. Same with tax, (uk anyway) VAT is already levied, how could more be added? Let’s face it, snuff is a minority pursuit, off the wall interests always attract a fair few cranks, and these are the people who obsess about governments, bans, taxes, surveillance etc etc.

I take it then that you’re not a firearms enthusiast? Not only did the UK government ban handguns, but they confiscated them from people who has never done anything wrong. Then they banned certain types of air pistols (air cartridge revolvers). I had to go to the police station and turn in over a grand’s worth of gear because the government didn’t trust me not to make them into firearms. I didn’t receive a penny in compensation, despite the fact that I had never comitted a crime. Now they have banned anything that LOOKS like a gun. I now live in NY, and am thus able to own firearms, but I recently had to destroy one of my magazines because it was capable of holding more than ten rounds. Again, I had broken no laws and received no compensation. Please don’t call me paranoid. I have experienced it first hand.

I don’t think most women will embrace anything that causes them to blow brown snot into a tissue or hankie, on any regular basis.

Agreed, and my friends who are smokers won’t even try it, I couldn’t force it down them

Here in Japan the middle-aged gossips love to shake their heads and cluck their tongues at things they don’t understand. So it seems better to fly under the radar. As soon as they figure out there’s a “new” (actually ancient) way to enjoy tobacco, I fear they’ll set out to ban it, or heavily tax it. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean you’re wrong. . .

Nice to run into another resident of Japan! I was a little surprised when the local tobacco shop started to carry it. Not sure if the government applies a tobacco tax on snuff, but I can currently purchase 10g tap boxes of Gawith for ¥350 which is a bit cheaper than back in the states. I would hate to see cost go up or availability decline.

well its mainstream enough that I found it and enjoy it everyday! so I’m happy!

In the states I don’t think it will take off with the vigor that e-cigs/vapes has. My take is that while there is a slight uptick in use, it is and will likely remain a niche. Just my opinion, but I believe there are several factors, some of which I would hate to see come up lest they outright ban snuff. This would include (all hyperbole and absolutely baseless mind you- but apropos for the sensationalists): Its a sneaky way for minors to access nicotine without the tell tale signs- according to a “survey” Snuff use could be used to mask drug use- according to some self anointed “expert” It causes immediate nasal damage - according to some obscure “doctor”. Its a “new” and untested form of tobacco use that “could” pose risks unknown - according to some “expert”. Most of it comes from overseas and “isn’t” taxed- thus cheating the US of much needed tax revenue. Secondhand snuff exposure “could” result in inadvertent inhalation of tobacco by the innocents. More and more snuff is flavored with such scents as chocolate, fruits, candy, sugar bears, pixie dust, and unicorns- obviously to attract children. See how any one of those completely absurd statements would be hammered home as “fact” and reinforced by some “expert”. It would be a national crisis and could lead to unintended consequences should snuff gain much more visibility that it has today.

But what if it was the other way around? Imagine academia, doctors and health care officials reaching the conclusion, that snuff indeed is a less hazardous alternative to smoking. Would they start promoting snuff? If the promotion started from some government branch, the government reaction along with public opinion would propably be more allowing. Well, I don’t think this is practically possible. If it was, this is the case I would like to see the snuff getting to mainstream. When it comes to film stars etc. I see the same problems on the horizon, as many have already listed in this thread. Wasn’t snus prohibited in EU simply because it rised its head as a popular alternative to other forms of tobacco. They tried to prohibit it before it gets mainstream, even though by the time there was no conclusive evidence of harm. Simple fact that it is tobacco was enough.

Snus was banned in the EU because of Skoal Bandits. In trying to prohibit Skoal Bandits, which supposedly made your lips fall off after only one can or some such BS, they banned almost all oral tobacco. No government, not counting the Swedes, will endorse ANY tobacco use. All the anti smoking has become anti tobacco. Yes, there is no “safe” form of tobacco use, but there also is no “safe” form of vehicle exhaust. They haven’t banned cars yet.

@StgJon - Greetings fom Osaka. I’m guessing you’re stationed at Yokota. Guess I’ll have to start looking for snuff at the local tobacco shops. I did see snuff at an online shop near Osaka but the selection was limited (and probably pretty old) but who knows?

@bigmick, yeah it was banned, because of the scottish experience or something. My point was that no scientific evidence was needed. I think there is a reason, why snuff lost its popularity, when manufactured cigs entered the market in late 1800’s. Cigarettes are easier to use, easily adopted, more discrete, take perfect amount of time to smoke, more social and have already a well established etiquette on how its done. To truely become mainstream alternative to smoking, snuff would need to overcome this. E-cigs share some of the pros of cigarettes and we are likely to see them get more and more mainstream because of this. Not snuff. The pros of snuff, which we at the moment have, say for example cheaper price would be taxed away. Evidence of risk-reduction is still inconclusive.

In the states I don’t think it will take off with the vigor that e-cigs/vapes has. My take is that while there is a slight uptick in use, it is and will likely remain a niche. Just my opinion, but I believe there are several factors, some of which I would hate to see come up lest they outright ban snuff. This would include (all hyperbole and absolutely baseless mind you- but apropos for the sensationalists): Its a sneaky way for minors to access nicotine without the tell tale signs- according to a “survey” Snuff use could be used to mask drug use- according to some self anointed “expert” It causes immediate nasal damage - according to some obscure “doctor”. Its a “new” and untested form of tobacco use that “could” pose risks unknown - according to some “expert”. Most of it comes from overseas and “isn’t” taxed- thus cheating the US of much needed tax revenue. Secondhand snuff exposure “could” result in inadvertent inhalation of tobacco by the innocents. More and more snuff is flavored with such scents as chocolate, fruits, candy, sugar bears, pixie dust, and unicorns- obviously to attract children. See how any one of those completely absurd statements would be hammered home as “fact” and reinforced by some “expert”. It would be a national crisis and could lead to unintended consequences should snuff gain much more visibility that it has today.

Great post and true/funny. They are trying to ban all together many flavors of e juice here in states.

@StgJon - Greetings fom Osaka. I’m guessing you’re stationed at Yokota. Guess I’ll have to start looking for snuff at the local tobacco shops. I did see snuff at an online shop near Osaka but the selection was limited (and probably pretty old) but who knows?

Down by Yokosuka. There is a shop called Tobacco Font in a mall here and they usually have Gawith Apricot and recently started to carry a dry SG Menthol. When I first found them had Gletscher Prise, but since perhaps a month ago they didn’t carry it. From time to time they have something new come in- like Café. I need to make a point to check shops around when I am up around Tokyo and other areas to see if they carry snuff. Not sure if you order from the UK, but to date I have never had any issues with shipments coming in via FPO/AP channels.

@Cigshurtmylungs While that list was prefaced as tongue-in-cheek, unfortunately all it takes is one reporter to latch onto it and generate a half baked story. While I certainly don’t want my or anyone else’s kids to pick up a dangerous habit such as smoking or dare I say taking snuff, but when they become an adult it should be their choice. As far as harm reduction- I don’t know that any amount of scientific research would alter my choice to use snuff. I knew the hazards of smoking and chose to smoke. Glad I have nearly given up cigarettes for good, and I didn’t need anything but personal motivation to do so. If I knew for certain that additional visibility of snuff would not cause a hyperbole reaction, I would be all for it, but alas we know that may not be the case without some very careful “marketing”.

I found snuff on my own. I don’t think it needs endorsement. natural evolution snuff popularity will grow or not .but the tax man will have his take when snuff becomes popular.

I discovered snuff while watching an old black and white version of A Tale of Two Cities. Some of the aristocrats were using it and I had to find out what it was that they were putting their nose. That was about 10 years ago that I had seen the black and white version. Pretty great.

I would say that if it did go mainstream, or at least mainstream enough for some governmental influence, snuff would be in the same category as pipe tobacco, rather than eCigs. The danger, regulatory-wise, for eCigs is in labeling them nicotine replacement devices. That opens the “medical” oversight door which nobody needs. Snuff just needs to be what it is…an enjoyable form of tobacco. Similar to pipe tobacco, with various flavors, scents, etc…an anachronistic hobby.

Snuff must first become mainstream within ourselves.

Tobacco duty was removed from snuff in the UK in 1978 in an attempt at tobacco ‘harm reduction’ so the UK government has done a wee bit already to promote snuff. Irony being it was most likely far more popular then than now, owing, in part, to there being far more coal mines at that time.