Can you buy snus at the gas station?

Maybe you have already seen that some gas stations in Switzerland now advertise Snus. We want to take a closer look at whether Snus is allowed to be sold at gas stations and which varieties you can find there. Additionally, we provide information about the legal situation in other European countries.

Snus at Gas Stations in EU Countries

Oral tobacco products made from powder or fine-grained granules are not legally allowed to be sold in EU countries (except Sweden) because they are considered Snus. However, some countries allow the sale of chewing tobacco, which is why snus-like tobacco products can be found at gas stations in, for example, the Czech Republic – these have a coarser tobacco structure and therefore belong to the permitted category of chewing tobacco. Tobacco-free All White Snus is not yet considered a tobacco product everywhere, which is why it is offered at gas stations in some EU countries. In Germany, however, even these tobacco-free All White Snus products are currently no longer available at gas stations (except for nicotine-free variants), as they have been temporarily withdrawn from the market until the regulation of these products is completed.

Snus at Gas Stations in Switzerland

Switzerland is an exception when it comes to the legality of Snus. Until 2019, there was also a ban on the sale of Snus here, although the product was allowed to be imported for personal use before that (albeit with quantity restrictions). In May 2019, the legal situation changed after the Federal Court, following a lawsuit by a Swiss importer, concluded that Snus does not harm health in an unexpected way, as the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) had previously assessed.

Furthermore, the argument that Snus is more harmful to health than cigarettes was also disproven. According to a WHO study, many Snus products were found to contain carcinogenic nitrosamines, and this finding was used as the basis for the Snus ban.

In fact, the study mainly examined products from North America, where there is no ban on nitrosamines. In Sweden, Snus products are controlled by the food authority, which prohibits the use of nitrosamines. Therefore, there is no scientific evidence that Snus has health effects that are more severe than those of other tobacco products.

Which Snus Varieties Are Sold at Gas Stations?

The varieties you will most often find are All White Nicotine Pouches. This variant is completely free of tobacco and instead contains nicotine in the form of salt or as a liquid preparation. This way, you get the same effect as with other Snus products but avoid tooth discoloration.

All White Snus products available at gas stations include:

VELO: The brand originally comes from Sweden and is available in different varieties. Production is subject to high-quality controls, which is reflected in the unique taste of the products. Velo is suitable for both Snus beginners and experienced users. One of the brand’s most popular products is VELO Mighty Peppermint with a nicotine content of 15.5 mg/g.

edelsnus: The edelsnus brand is produced in Switzerland, which is why you can find it at Swiss gas stations as well as Austrian tobacco shops. Edelsnus matches its Scandinavian competitors in quality and taste and shines with flawless ingredients and unique flavors. Particularly recommended is edel Citrus with 15 mg/g nicotine.

Conclusion: Buy Snus at Gas Stations or Online?

Although Snus is available at gas stations, the selection is much smaller than with online orders. If you want more variety, you will find a large product range online from both small and large brands in various strengths and flavors.