Despite Legal Ban, Teenagers Still Use Nicotine During School Hours

According to the latest report from §RØG, published by the National Institute of Public Health, the legal requirement for smoke- and nicotine-free school time is far from being followed in practice.

Many students who smoke or use e-cigarettes or smokeless nicotine products on a daily or occasional basis also report doing so during school hours. At the same time, large numbers of other students are exposed to these products throughout the school day.

It is particularly smokeless nicotine products like snus, nicotine pouches, and vapes that are prevalent in school settings.

In primary and lower secondary schools, for example, 75 percent of students who use snus or nicotine pouches say they also use them during school hours. Among those who use e-cigarettes, 71 percent do so at school, and 62 percent of cigarette smokers say the same.

Seeing Others Use Tobacco and Nicotine

The report also shows that children and adolescents are not only using nicotine products themselves – they are also witnessing others do so.

In primary and lower secondary schools, students report most often seeing others use e-cigarettes, snus, and nicotine pouches.

A total of 68 percent say they see other students using e-cigarettes during the school day, while 57 percent see the use of smokeless nicotine products, and nearly 38 percent witness cigarette smoking.

“One of the goals of smoke- and nicotine-free school hours is to reduce visibility, so that use of these products doesn’t become a normalized part of children’s daily life. That’s why it’s concerning that so many students see their peers using tobacco and nicotine at school,” says Lotus Sofie Bast, Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Public Health and project lead for the §RØG survey.

She points to the harmful effects of nicotine products. Research shows that nicotine can interfere with brain development in young people and increase the risk of poorer mental health, including depression.

“The problem is that many children become addicted to nicotine relatively quickly. And it can be difficult to break that addiction,” says Lotus Sofie Bast.

Need for New Initiatives

According to Lotus Sofie Bast, the findings in the report demand action. Even though the law on smoke- and nicotine-free school hours is in place, the data show it is often not being enforced effectively.

“We have to acknowledge that many schools struggle to enforce the ban. This is partly because the products are discreet – especially nicotine pouches and vapes – but also due to social norms and peer pressure among young people,” she says.

She argues that the solution isn’t just about stricter enforcement but also about changing the culture and equipping schools with better tools for prevention.

“It’s difficult, but not impossible. Schools are already able to enforce bans on alcohol. This is very much about shifting norms and giving both students and teachers better tools,” says Lotus Sofie Bast.

She welcomes the Danish Health Authority’s recent launch of new educational materials aimed at primary schools. With videos, conversation cards, and discussion dilemmas, the materials are designed to help teachers and parents talk with children about nicotine use, peer pressure, and building supportive communities.

“We know that many children feel pressured to try these products. In these cases, strong communities based on something other than nicotine can really make a difference,” says Lotus Sofie Bast.

The §RØG survey is conducted in collaboration with the Danish Cancer Society, the Danish Heart Foundation, and the Danish Lung Association, and is funded by the Tryg Foundation.

Contact: Senior Researcher Lotus Sofie Bast, Phone: +45 6550 7809, Email: loni@sdu.dk, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark