The Razumkov Centre Sociological Service conducted a public opinion poll on consumption of nicotine-containing products, including nicotine pouches, in Ukraine on December 11–28, 2025.

According to the poll, 72.6% of adults regularly consume normal cigarettes, 16.7% — electrically heated tobacco products, 14.3% — electronic cigarettes, or vapes, 8.7% — roll-ons, 3.2% — tobacco snus, 2% — nicotine pouches.

The vast majority of respondents who regularly consume tobacco or nicotine products started by smoking cigarettes (86.1%), much fewer started with e-cigarettes (6.2%), roll-ons (2.5%), hookahs (1.9%), heated tobacco products (0.8%), nicotine lozenges and tobacco snus (0.6% each).

The main reasons for quitting cigarettes among former smokers who now use alternative nicotine products include the desire to improve their health (69.3%, among nicotine lozenge users — 74.8%) and health problems, such as cough or shortness of breath (12.5% ​​and 18.9%, respectively); such a decision was more rarely prompted by medical recommendations or other factors, such as convenience, smell, price, or the desire to try something different.

After switching from cigarettes to alternative nicotine products, more than half of former smokers noted positive changes in their health — better breathing, reduced coughing, and overall improvement in their condition (57.2%, compared to 68.6% among nicotine patch users), while about a third of respondents reported no changes.

80.8% of current nicotine patch users consume such products with flavours other than tobacco. Almost 40% of respondents noted that if non-tobacco flavours are banned, they will still continue to consume pouches: they either would try to find flavoured products or switch to tobacco pouches. 22.5% of them plan to switch to other flavoured nicotine-containing products; few (8.5%) respondents considered completely giving up tobacco and nicotine products.

Among the most efficient measures to reduce smoking in Ukraine, respondents mentioned a public information campaign on the dangers of this habit among schoolchildren and parents (57.5%), followed by tougher control over sales to minors (25.7%) and combating the illegal market (22.5%). The idea of ​​a complete ban on all nicotine-containing products was supported by few respondents.

The poll results indicate the non-efficiency of bans on nicotine-containing products: the vast majority of respondents are convinced that banning individual products or flavours does not reduce consumption, but redirects the demand to the illegal black market. At the same time, respondents strongly support the approach whereby the state focuses on protecting minors, to reduce the use of cigarettes and other nicotine products by young people.

The vast majority of respondents (82.2%) completely agrees or tends to agree that any alternatives that may help adult smokers quit smoking should be available to such consumers.

The face-to-face poll was conducted in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathian, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi regions and the city of Kyiv (only in the territories controlled by the government of Ukraine and free of hostilities).

The poll was conducted using a stratified multi-stage sample with random selection at the initial stages of sampling and quota selection of respondents at the final stage (when respondents were selected on the basis of sex and age quotas). The sample structure reproduces the demographic structure of the adult population of the territories where the poll was held as of the beginning of 2022 (by age, sex, settlement type).

1,031 respondents aged above 18 were polled. The sample theoretical error does not exceed 3.2%. However, additional systemic deviations of the sample may be caused by the consequences of Russian aggression, in particular, forced evacuation of millions of citizens.

Also, respondents who regularly (daily/weekly) consume nicotine pads (pouches) were polled in a booster sample (203 respondents).

What tobacco or nicotine products do you consume regularly (daily/weekly)? MULTIPLE answers are possible

What nicotine products did you try first?

What made you to quit smoking cigarettes or roll-ons?, MULTIPLE answers are possible

Have you felt noticeable changes after switching to this product (these products) instead of smoking?, MULTIPLE answers are possible

If flavours other than tobacco are banned in this product, what are you likely to do?

Which of the following measures do you consider the most efficient or the second most efficient for reducing the smoking rate in Ukraine? aggregate shares of those who consider this measure the first and second most efficient

Now I will read out some statements regarding measures to reduce smoking/nicotine consumption in Ukraine. Please tell my to what extent you agree or disagree with them.

A ban on tobacco or nicotine products will not be efficient. Consumers will just search for the desired products on the black market.

Adults are free to choose whatever products they want to consume. The role of the government is to prevent minors from accessing products that are not intended for them, not to ban products entirely.

Any alternative that allows an adult smoker to quit smoking should be available to such consumers.

Banning flavours is not an efficient way to reduce tobacco and nicotine consumption. Consumers will simply find a way to continue buying the products they want, but illegally.

The government should focus on youth education programmes, as they are more efficient in reducing the use of cigarettes and other nicotine products by young people.

https://razumkov.org.ua/napriamky/sotsiologichni-doslidzhennia/rezultaty-vseukrainskogo-opytuvannia-shchodo-spozhyvannia-nikotynovmisnykh-vyrobiv-gruden-2025r