Federal regulators are set to decide whether Zyn nicotine pouches can be marketed as a “lower-risk” alternative to cigarettes, despite no finding that the products are safer. With nicotine pouch use rising among teens, public health experts warn that reduced-risk messaging could normalize nicotine use and fuel addiction among young people.
At the same time, tobacco’s influence is being challenged across culture and policy. The British Museum ended a long-standing tobacco sponsorship, cigarette imagery is resurging in pop culture with potential impacts on youth behavior, and Dallas enacted a comprehensive ban on smoking and vaping in public indoor spaces. Together, these developments reflect growing efforts to limit tobacco’s reach and protect public health through awareness, accountability and stronger clean-air policies.