Media Watch: CBC on Nicotine Pouches

The anti-ZONNIC nicotine pouch agenda just keeps going. This time, CBC is getting in on the act, with hilarious results.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has long been considered the country’s most biased news source. It’s effectively a mouthpiece for state propaganda, which is no surprise when you consider government funding makes up two-thirds of its revenues.

One could be forgiven for thinking that journalistic integrity could still prevail. However, as an excellent article in The Hub argues, the perception that this once venerable public broadcaster is failing Canadian citizens is growing by the year.

I didn’t have high expectations for this CBC article on nicotine pouches. I expected the usually emotional arguments, cherry-picked experts, and dutiful towing of the government line. Yet, somehow, it surprised me because it was so goddam stupid.

In fact, I would say that it’s almost beneath criticism. Almost, but not totally. So, here are some of the stupidest parts of the piece.

#1. Just like candy

The premise of this article is to suggest that Big Tobacco is trying to get children or teenagers hooked on a product they can’t legally buy.

The evidence is weak.

• Colourful marketing is for EVERYONE.
• When Tropic Breeze is the best you can do as evidence for marketing teens, it might be time to reevaluate your stance. Ask yourself, which age demographic is most likely to wistfully talk about the feeling of sand on their feet and the tropical breeze running through their hair? Answer: it’s not teenagers.

#2. Unlikely scenario

The quote in this article from David Hammond is just laughable. In what world does Hammond live in that he thinks that height is the only thing that is stopping a toddler from buying nicotine pouches?

Here’s a selection of things we need to believe to buy into Hammond’s strange vision.

• Toddlers are free to wander the aisles of convenience stores without parental supervision.
• Toddlers have disposable income or debit cards.
• Toddlers will beeline past sweets with bears and cartoonish writing and go for metal circular tins.
• People working the registers at these places — many of whom are parents themselves — will shrug their shoulders and let the toddler have what it wants.

The whole thing insults the integrity of shopkeepers and their staff. In Holland’s bizarro world, fines and tight regulations are the only things that might stop a toddler from being sold nicotine.

#3. Thin accusations

There are two claims here:

• Nicotine pouches cause “a host of health problems”.
• History is repeating itself.

Let’s deal with them separately.

Alleged health problems

Yes, nicotine is less healthy than water. It’s about as “dangerous” as coffee.

Brain development

The article quotes a paper that admits, “Our review is not fully comprehensive” and “ there is more work to be done.” It’s also a study in rodents, not humans.

Mental health

Another paper that can’t tell the difference between symptoms and causes.

Oral health

Which is something we’ve covered before here.

History repeating

UBC Okanagan’s Laura Struik has this to say:

The concept creep has reached the next stage. Now, these products are “kid-friendly.” Tobacco control lunatics are running out of runway. The only avenue left is to claim that Big Tobacco is targeting newborn babies.

There will be someone out there who is prepared to sacrifice their credibility for some grant money, so expect these claims to be made before 2024 is out.

Final thoughts

While they are saying stupid things, these people aren’t stupid. They are accomplished and college-educated, which doesn’t mean they have backbone, curiosity, or integrity, but it does mean they aren’t stupid.

But they think you are, which is why the think they can get away with this nonsense.