I’m Bátor Vári, a 19-year-old student living in Denmark, local coordinator for Students For Liberty Denmark, and a young activist dedicated to defending personal and economic freedom.

I started this petition because countless peers choose nicotine pouches over smoking, and I worry this law might force them back to far more harmful habits. As a libertarian, I reject government overreach into personal choices. I believe it’s unprecedented for authorities to dictate what adults may or may not consume.

This petition is part of my work to ensure our generation’s voice is heard in policy decisions that affect our freedom.

To the Danish Parliament and Ministry of Health

We, the undersigned, call on the Danish government to reconsider the newly introduced regulation, “Bekendtgørelse om grænseværdier for nikotinindhold i tobakssurrogater,” which limits nicotine pouches to a maximum of 9 mg per pouch, effective 1 April 2026 (Danish Ministry of Health, Executive Order).

This law poses a serious threat to both public health and individual freedom.

It Undermines Harm Reduction
Many Danes have successfully switched from smoking to stronger nicotine pouches. Scientific evidence shows that nicotine pouches are far less harmful than smoking (Public Health England, 2015).

By capping nicotine at 9 mg, the law risks making these alternatives ineffective for heavy smokers. A survey by IPSOS found that 35% of users would turn to the black market and nearly 13% would return to smoking if such restrictions were introduced (Tholos Foundation / IPSOS Survey, 2024).

It Restricts Personal Freedom

Adults should have the right to choose what products they consume. Denmark’s new restriction represents an arbitrary government overreach, ignoring the fact that nicotine users vary in needs and tolerances.

As harm-reduction advocate Clive Bates notes, a cap as low as 9 mg is “a major error” and will have “unintended consequences for public health” (Bates, 2025).

 It Creates Unintended Consequences

History shows that banning or restricting safer alternatives doesn’t eliminate demand — it creates black markets. Danish authorities have already reported high levels of illegal vape and nicotine sales in Copenhagen (Tobacco Reporter, 2024).

Meanwhile, Sweden, where stronger nicotine pouches and snus remain widely available, has one of the lowest smoking rates in the EU (European Commission, 2020). Denmark should learn from success, not repeat mistakes.

Our Demands
We urge the Danish government to:

Withdraw or amend the 9 mg nicotine limit to a more realistic threshold (e.g. 20 mg) that reflects consumer needs.
Engage with health experts, harm reduction advocates, and consumers before imposing restrictive laws that risk public health.
Protect freedom of choice for adults while maintaining safeguards that keep nicotine away from minors.
 
Why This Matters
Over 600,000 Danes smoke, a number that may rise if effective harm-reduction products are weakened.
Sweden’s experience proves that access to strong, safer nicotine alternatives dramatically reduces smoking prevalence.
This regulation pushes Denmark backwards, punishing consumers, empowering black markets, and endangering public health.
 
Sign this petition
To show that Denmark values freedom, harm reduction, and responsible policy-making. Together, we can stop harmful overregulation and defend both health and liberty

All information gathered August 2025, data subjected to change.