If snuff became as common as smoking cigarettes, would that be a good thing or a bad thing? If snuff was that popular, we wouldn’t have witnessed the closure of F&T and Smith’s, and we’d see new shops opening. We wouldn’t have to worry about people thinking we were taking cocaine (not that I really let that worry me) and we’d probably have lots more manufacturers and snuffs to choose from. We might even gain back some of the ettiquette, and good snuff boxes would become available once more. On the other hand, we would lose some exclusivity and eccentricity. Which would you choose?

I’d definitely love to see it become mainstream. More people living longer healthier lives, more snuff being produced, and I could feel less self-conscious about doing it in public.

The only negative about snuff growing in popularity would be some of the flavors I like would no longer be ‘manly’ enough, and I might catch flack about it!

No because then they would tax the shit out of it $-)

I do wish it was more well known. The thing is it doesn’t really matter what I prefer. I think it will become the most common form of tobacco in a few years. Especially after the truth gets out, which it is starting to do.

Well… obviously, as n9inchnails said, “the governmet would tax the shit out of it”. But many stuff would be more available… fifty fifty.

“If snuff became as common as smoking cigarettes, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?” It would be disastrous. The 1978 EEC (now the EU) revocation of Customs and Excise duty on tobacco snuff still holds good in Europe in 2013. This is only so because snuff taking remains a quiet backwater, shaded from the glare of controversy. If there was a huge increase in snuff purchases the powers that be would pile on taxes as fast as you can sneeze. Be thankful that snuff is still cheap and courts little controversy. “… good snuff boxes would become available once more.” Quite possibly so as most snuffers like to have boxes. However, one of the reasons why there are fewer snuffboxes is that much snuff in Britain was at one time sold loose from 2lb tins, weighed out and ladled into little triangular paper packets. All snuff bought in France was, in my experience, sold loose or in parcels. Bernard sold most of their snuffs in foil wrappers, available everywhere in Switzerland and parts of France and Germany. Under these circumstances a box was a necessity and tobacconists had a ready supply of them. With the demise of the brick & mortar tobacconist that sold boxes you could actually see and hold and the popularity of pre-packed snuff the craftsmen who made boxes have largely gone, alas.

I don’t know how I feel about snuff being as mainstream as cigarettes. On one hand I make youtube vids to get the word out about nasal snuff but at the same time I like nasal snuff being… kinda under the radar so to speak.

I hadn’t thought of the EU. They’d surely ban all scented snuffs, as these are clearly those evil Big Snuff Corporations marketing to Our Children.

I fear the same as n9inchnails but on the other hand snuff should become more popular.

I do wish it was more well known. The thing is it doesn’t really matter what I prefer. I think it will become the most common form of tobacco in a few years. Especially after the truth gets out, which it is starting to do.

The idea that in a few scant years snuff would become the most common form of tobacco is VERY optimistic, even idealistic. The truth may be out, but regular people who don’t spend their time on snuffhouse, snuff websites, and reading snuff history are not exposed to it at all. I bet even if 60 Minutes picked up a story that portrayed snuff in a positive light, it would have minimal impact. Good luck convincing the vast majority of self-conscious women to walk around with brown liquid dripping out of their noses. The “rugged” man persona presents similar problems. Cigars had their bubble in the late 90’s, and it burst. Snuffs bubble was in the 18th Century. While I believe that snuff can and does save lives that would otherwise be lost to smoking, I cannot agree that there will be a mass migration from cigarettes to snuff in our lifetimes.

If snuff were mainstream Big tobacco would swoop in and buy up the smaller snuff producers and promptly ruin it. Or they would lobby to have it taxed and restricted to prevent any cut from their sales. Probably the reason most of us are here is that it isn’t mainstream because frankly, neither are we.

I wouldn’t mind it being more mainstream. However, being in Washington State, the General tins we have here are taxed up the yahoo. Granted, its still cheaper than cigs over here ($9 to $10 per pack depending). Snuff need not be as mainstream as cigarettes, but I wouldnt mind it being popular enough so people don’t think I’m snorting coke while sitting in my car at stop lights.

Let it stay like it is. It gets to popular & really in the public eye, the azz wipe anti’s will start a campaign of hate against it, and the thieving politicans will look at it as a cash cow for them to tax the livin’ bejesus out of it. Look what happened to the RYO industry. Just my humble opinion. X_X

I would prefer snuff to be mainstream for the health of the world. I care not how Governments would abuse it. There is no good reason to be selfish about it. In the certainty of death and taxes I would happily pay more taxes for less death. (this soap box really works well)

I too agree with Y’all regarding governments taxing the bejitters out of it if it became popular but i’m the giving type and i feel that so many are missing out on a truely splendid and safe pleasure. Make it popular i say.

I don’t know what my feelings are in regards to this. Certainly everyone brings up good points, and I’m satisfied with the status quo, yet it would be handy to be able to obtain snuff at a local store such as I was able to do 25 years ago in San Francisco. Perhaps with more people using snuff our hobby would be more protected, because it seems that unlike many cigarette smokers, snuff users don’t feel guilty about using snuff. The problem with change is that it brings uncertainty.

I do and I don’t. I don’t because the EU would seek to ban it like with snus, as they keep saying in TPDs, if it starts to get popular with “the kids” it will be regulated up the arse and taxed to death and then they will ban any scents, all to protect the kids mind!! Even with the WHO and all the science saying its fine, they will still seek to meddle and try and interfere with our lives. I do because hopefulyl because prices would come down as it gets popular and there is more competition, some places just seek to rip you off on snuff others do price it competitively over here. Also seeing it in more shops would be good. Snuff is still quite popular over here anyway so its fine as it is IMO.

Using snuff is why it won’t ever be mainstream. It’s not easy putting something up your nose that can burn and make your nose run. That alone guarantees it won’t ever be popular like other forms of tobacco use, but I’m still tickled to have found out about it.

Using snuff is why it won’t ever be mainstream. It’s not easy putting something up your nose that can burn and make your nose run. That alone guarantees it won’t ever be popular like other forms of tobacco use, but I’m still tickled to have found out about it.

Not exactly… it used to be very popular among the ages… even hundred years ago.

There are pros and cons. More mainstream = better health, more taxes, crap from EU, Big Tobacco takeover, possible bannings like w/ snus, increased awareness and social acceptance etc. I prefer the way things are now. Under the radar, cheap compared to other tobacco products and a little bit eccentric/niche.

Some valid points made in this post. I tend to hope for an increased user base, but not much bigger than what already exists. Perhaps enough snuffers to support another snuff company or two, and/or, a couple more snuff accessory creators.

I would like to see it available at the local convenience store, but I do also see the governments sticking their hands in our pockets. Because it has always been about control. Lets us keep this our well kept secret.The quality of snuff would go down hill to keep up with the demand. And your favorite snuff would be out of stock, like so many favorite pipe tobaccos currently are.

I’m against it based on several good points that have already been made. As for etiquette, that starts with yourself… Since it it so seldomly seen these days, each one of us has the opportunity to establish the parameters of snuff etiquette within our local communities ourselves! Etiquette and Panache… 'tain’t necessarily the same thing!

As things stand now snuff is somewhat under the radar, if that changed, then we’d also be one more target for the anti tobacco lobby. Inevitably there would be more regulation and taxation.

True, but maybe that would be tempered with wider availability. I used to be able to pop to John Hollingsworth in Birmingham on my way home from work and choose from a selection of snuffs. If I went to the Wellington (also Birmingham city centre) for a pint, I could browse an even larger selection. Now I live in America, I have to order online, pay for shipping to the States, and wait for it to arrive. Not that I’m knocking the service I have received from Mr Snuff, I got my last order in six days! Imagine if everybody snuffed like they used to historically. How cool would it be to be able to walk into any store and buy it, and trade pinches with fellow snuff-takers?

It would be cool but we are living in oppressive times where tobacco is being persecuted on a global scale like never before in history. I want to keep the vociferous maniacal anti’s away from my beloved snuff.

The only plus would be better availability in shops, but with that would come lower quality as every get rich quick business entrepreneur jumped on the bandwagon. Also, I quite like being the only person in a pub/restaurant/cafe/party/traffic jam etc who is taking a pinch.

Plus, Roderick (Toque) is a business entrepeneur (though not the get rich quick type) and look at all the amazing new snuffs we have available to us. If snuff became mainstream again, I’d wager we’d have more Toque type businesses springing up, and that could only be a Good Thing.

It would be cool but we are living in oppressive times where tobacco is being persecuted on a global scale like never before in history. I want to keep the vociferous maniacal anti’s away from my beloved snuff.

Our beloved European Union tried to ban aromatic snuff and left only natural. And they’ve tried to ban all snuffs before, so… I’m a little bit concerned about snuff’s future in Europe. But we have Kaszuby so if it comes, maybe EU accepts snuff as a " traditional specialities" like they did with snus in Sweden.

Probably a bad thing in the UK. To the general public, tobacco is tobacco. At the moment snuff is not taxed so it’s about 2.50 GBP for 25g. Tax it and it will be the same as hand rolling tobacco, 8GBP for 25g (1 GBP is roughly 1.5 USD). Snuff will be put on a par with smoking tobacco which can not be put on display and has to be kept behind metal shutters (small shops are exempt at the moment) which costs thousands to install. Soon, labelling will be banned. I can see flavoured snuff being banned as attractive to children (a load of b*lls but that’s the anti tobacco lobby for you). Next, some smart arse will discover that “passive snuff taking” causes cancer, so there will be no snuffing in public places like pubs, work etc. If you drive for a living, your vehicle is your workplace so no snuffing there either. Importing snuff, like cigaretts may well be banned. That should just about kill it off and probably the snuff manufacturers as well. Big tobacco will be delighted. Another competitor will bite the dust and the only loosers will be us. Of course the Government will just say they didn’t mean this to happen, but they would say that, wouldn’t they ?

nonsense

I would hate to see snuff go mainstream. Demand would increase and quality would decrease as is always the case over time.

High taxes, strict regulations and even prohibitions are sure to follow any “vice” that catches the mass public’s attention especially when viewed as hip. While a spike in popularity might make snuff more available and increase variety, as a tobacco product (“the scourge of modern enlightened civilization”) it will most certainly bring some negative backlash in it’s train. So I answer no. Secret societies are secret for very good reasons. YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT SNUFFHOUSE! If anyone asks snuff is for dipping.

@ lunecat: good point but I’m not that optimistic. Lol

I just dont see it becoming mainstream. Most people that Ive introduced it to are not into snorting veggies up their noses, and are turned off by the possible burn, snotting, and funky boogers. Most will never try it and that is fine with me. I am delighted that it is easily available for those of us that the previous negative attributes dont pose a problem. I love it!