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This is some big news in Sweden, and it's called the biggest scandal of the decade.
Background: Swedish match is a Swedish company that basically has monopoly on Swedish tobacco production, but produces mainly a Swedish speciality called "snus". It's basically tobacco that you put behind your lip, resting on your gums that gives you a constant flow of nicotine. It gives you more nicotine overall than smoking, but in smaller portions, and it's considered a much healthier choice. It's been a Scandinavian speciality for about 200 years, and about 25% of the Swedish population is regularly using it.
Pictures of snus in the 'loose' form and the 'bags'.
![[image loading]](http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u555/AdrianCullberg/Snus_tobacco_zpsb66ee32a.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u555/AdrianCullberg/Portioned_snus_zpsec948622.jpg)
Swedish politicians a long with Swedish match have been lobbying to make it legal to sell on the EU market, where it's currently banned. The reasoning the lobbyists is that it's used to get off smoking, and a population using snus is a much healthier population than a smoking one. The health dangers of snus is that frequent use for over 50~ years can badly damage your gums, and it's rumoured to increase the risks of getting pancreas cancer. It's basically harmless compared to other tobacco products.
The reason for the EU to stop it is that they want to get rid of all tobacco products, and don't want any diversity. They're currently working on removing flavoured cigarettes, removing brand marketing on the covers, covering cigarette packages with medicinal pictures of smokers lungs etc. Bringing another kind of tobacco product out on the market would be against that.
This has pretty much been at a standstill for ages.
What's happened: Swedish match was contacted by a Maltese company that put forth the proposal that Swedish match should give them 60 million euros, and in exchange the Maltese EU commissioner would break the ban on sales of snus.
This rose a shitstorm, as it's the first big case of bribery and corruption that high up within the EU. The EU anti corruption commission has come to the conclusion that the Maltese commissioner was aware of the proposal and he's had to leave office.
The anti tobacco lobby claims that it's all a big plot that the tobacco company has cooked up, and that none of it is true.
I thought the case was interesting, because I'm myself a 'snuser' and love it, and I'd like to see it be exported, as it's just a great alternative to smoking.
I hope the article didn't come off as too biased.
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/media-corner/press-releases/press-releases/2012/20121019_01_en.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/oukwd-uk-eu-health-dalli-idAFBRE89I0VQ20121019
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Don't worry, I like your article. Should this be true, this does should not make it only into swedish news, it concerns the whole EU. Do you have any english sources, or could you link a swedish one please?
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I don't really have an opinion of snus and it's pretty dumb to be illegal anyway but if this is true that's some grade A corruption from Malta. Snus still runs the risk of esophageal cancer also I'm sure, and that shit is not pretty.
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Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years).
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On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years).
Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned?
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On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned?
And because his friend is too dumb to limit his intake or stop when it begins to cause obvious damage.
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On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years).
You can get snus in the US at pretty much any gas station. The one I worked at had this little refrigerated display case for the containers. It's a little different than chewing tobacco.
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On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years).
I think it's disgusting, but I don't support the ban. Who am I to tell adults what they can and can't put in their bodies?
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On October 23 2012 04:17 heliusx wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned? And because his friend is too dumb to limit his intake or stop when it begins to cause obvious damage.
My thoughts are that if you wanna fuck up your body (Alcohol does it too, are we going to enter prohibition again?) then be my guest. I don't think anyone should push their views on others, especially if it's causing no harm (direct or indirect) to anyone else, that's morally presumptuous.
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On October 23 2012 04:22 MutaDoom wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:17 heliusx wrote:On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned? And because his friend is too dumb to limit his intake or stop when it begins to cause obvious damage. My thoughts are that if you wanna fuck up your body (Alcohol does it too, are we going to enter prohibition again?) then be my guest. I don't think anyone should push their views on others, especially if it's causing no harm (direct or indirect) to anyone else, that's morally presumptuous.
I'm agreeing with you.
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On October 23 2012 04:22 MutaDoom wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:17 heliusx wrote:On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned? And because his friend is too dumb to limit his intake or stop when it begins to cause obvious damage. My thoughts are that if you wanna fuck up your body (Alcohol does it too, are we going to enter prohibition again?) then be my guest. I don't think anyone should push their views on others, especially if it's causing no harm (direct or indirect) to anyone else, that's morally presumptuous.
Oh shit. Well, someone's gotta do it, again.
The problem isn't that it hurts your body, you can jump off a goddamn cliff if you want, and be kind enough to die. The problem is that with universal healthcare everyone has to pay for your stupidity.
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On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned?
Don't take him out of context, you know what he means.
If snus is anything like chewing tobacco around here (which he seems to think it is), it needs to die fast.
(not saying I think it is like chewing tobacco, I have no idea personally)
As for my opinion on the ban, I like the war they're waging on tobacco products. Tobacco products tend to be boring, addictive and deadly. Even worse, the most popular products tend to fuck over people nearby as well. The sooner tobacco dies, the better.
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Does someone else have non-swedish sources for this? I don't know anything about the credibility of those, but if it is true, it is quite serious. You should not be able to change laws by paying some maltese company. Of course, it might just have been a scam by that maltese company, too.
How trustworthy are those swedish sources?
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On October 23 2012 04:24 Recognizable wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:22 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:17 heliusx wrote:On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned? And because his friend is too dumb to limit his intake or stop when it begins to cause obvious damage. My thoughts are that if you wanna fuck up your body (Alcohol does it too, are we going to enter prohibition again?) then be my guest. I don't think anyone should push their views on others, especially if it's causing no harm (direct or indirect) to anyone else, that's morally presumptuous. Oh shit. Well, someone's gotta do it, again. The problem isn't that it hurts your body, you can jump off a goddamn cliff if you want, and be kind enough to die. The problem is that with universal healthcare everyone has to pay for your stupidity.
Well you guys have a long list of things you need to ban then. smoking, drinking alcohol, fatty foods...
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On October 23 2012 04:25 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2012 04:16 MutaDoom wrote:On October 23 2012 04:15 Tiegrr wrote:
Seems pretty much like the "chewing tobacco" we have here in the states. Personally, I find it disgusting and I support this ban. My friend is 26 and already had to get prosthetics to replace his four front lower teeth a few months ago (he's been using it as an alternative to smoking for about 6 years). Because you find it disgusting, it should be banned? Don't take him out of context, you know what he means. If snus is anything like chewing tobacco around here (which he seems to think it is), it needs to die fast. (not saying I think it is like chewing tobacco, I have no idea personally) As for my opinion on the ban, I like the war they're waging on tobacco products. Tobacco products tend to be boring, addictive and deadly. Even worse, the most popular products tend to fuck over people nearby as well. The sooner tobacco dies, the better.
It is not like chewing tobacco.
The snus size of the portion ones is about as big as the last joint of your pinky (about 2cm~/0,8inches). It's not something you chew, and you get nicotine through absorption of the thin skin of the gums rather than through swallowing. You barely swallow any of the juices or anything.
On October 23 2012 04:26 Simberto wrote:
Does someone else have non-swedish sources for this? I don't know anything about the credibility of those, but if it is true, it is quite serious. You should not be able to change laws by paying some maltese company. Of course, it might just have been a scam by that maltese company, too.
How trustworthy are those swedish sources?
The case is up in EU anti corruption commission which is of the opinion that he was aware of this happening, and he's basically been forced to resign. This is information from basically every Swedish media outlet.
Here's the EU olaf press release: http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/media-corner/press-releases/press-releases/2012/20121019_01_en.htm
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May I ask why someone wants to put tobacco in his mouth? The smoke taste...OK, but that snus would need a lot of flavor enhancers to taste good. Other wise, every one who got accidentally some tobacco parts in his mouth can confirm that it tastes horrible.
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Chewing tobacco is way more dangerous for you than snus, apparently due to it being fire-cured rather than steam-cured like swedish snus.
edit:^ to above me, smoking also tastes like shit first time you do it. It's an acquired taste, swedish snus is generally very salty too.
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Thank you. I threw that in along with the EU press release.
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EPT
