# What is snuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531 "2003-07-01T07:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/21 "2003-07-02T15:36:51Z")
Snuff is really banned in the EU? What’s the logic behind that? Is it thought that snuff is a gateway to cigarettes for young people? ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/22 "2003-07-02T17:55:19Z")
Are there any reputable studies on the health effect of [Ariva cigaletts?](http://www.vafco.com/features.htm) Ariva is a new product of compressed tobacco in a lozenge form. > [@](#): > > It is a compressed, powdered tobacco bit, or cigalett piece, designed to be dissolved in the mouth. It offers adult cigarette smokers an acceptable alternative when they cannot, or do not want to smoke. In other words, it’s sort of like chewing tobacco, without the need to spit. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/23 "2003-07-02T18:11:39Z")
Snuff is NOT dip ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/24 "2003-07-02T18:27:51Z")
Not to be a wet blanket, but the question _has_ been answered already: Snuff is finely ground tobacco that is inhaled through the nose. Though I suppose there’s also some debate over whether the stuff under your lip can also be called snuff. FWIW, I’ve only ever heard snuff in reference to the inhaled stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/25 "2003-07-02T19:07:23Z")
And, as you have probably guessed, a snuff box is a small metal container, usually ornately detailed, to store your snuff in. Here’s a picture of one: [http://www.great-grooms.co.uk/acatalog/horn%20snuff%20box.jpg](http://www.great-grooms.co.uk/acatalog/horn%20snuff%20box.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/26 "2003-07-02T19:16:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*Put it this way: taking snuff is a national pastime in Sweden and forbidden in the rest of the European Union. \*\* It’s absolutely not forbidden here. It’s sold in all places where you can buy cigarettes. But I never ever seen anybody using it apart from north-african immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/27 "2003-07-02T21:28:42Z")
The confusion here appears to be about regional terminology. This site, [snuffbox.org.uk](http://www.snuffbox.org.uk/index.htm), clarifies it. In the UK at least, “snuff” = dry and finely powdered tobacco, taking by sniffing, and as others have said, British historical references, snuffboxes, etc pertain to this type. In the USA, “snuff” generally means the coarser moister variety used orally: i.e. snus a.k.a. Copenhagen snuff. Nasal snuff is still sold by UK tobacconists, but oral snuff has been banned here since around 1990, due to a particular scare about a Skoal product. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/28 "2003-07-02T22:41:10Z")
Posted by **yBeayf:** > [@](#): > > Snuff boxes are exactly what the name implies, small boxes used for carrying around one’s snuff. They were usually highly decorated, and many of them are quite stunning works of art. Snuff mulls are essentially large snuff boxes that sit on a tabletop, and are traditionally made from ram’s horn. And the Chinese made a special art-form out of snuff- **bottles!** I once saw a fascinating (and, I believe, permanent) exhibition of Chinese snuff-bottles at the Peabody Museum of Art in Baltimore, Md. Exquisite little things, made of painted glass, or carved jade, or horn! The mouths seem too narrow to pour out much Cope or Skoal at a time, however – so they must have used a very finely-ground form of snuff, probably the nasal, not the oral form. The existence of these bottles is the only indication I have ever encountered that snuff is, or ever was, popular in China. Does anyone know if the Chinese still take snuff? Or still make snuff-bottles? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/29 "2003-07-03T11:00:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clairobscur \* > It’s absolutely not forbidden here. It’s sold in all places where you can buy cigarettes. But I never ever seen anybody using it apart from north-african immigrants. WHich type are you referring to, wet or dry? The Swedish, wet, type is as far as I know forbidden. > [@](#): > > \*raygirvan \* > … oral snuff has been banned here since around 1990, due to a particular scare about a Skoal product. I remember when it happened, but as I understand it was a widely publicised propaganda trick, banning something that virtually no-one used anyway. However, when UK had to unban it a couple of years later, after an American snuff producer had argued that the ban was against EU regulations, it was a very discreet thing. BTW, a friend of mine from Belfast has told me that his barber there sells wet snuff, probably against the law, but nevertheless. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/30 "2003-07-03T14:44:52Z")
I use snuff once a year - someone sends a snuff box around the synagogue on Yom Kipper. It’s wonderful for keeping strength up when I haven’t eaten (or had anything to drink) all day. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/31 "2003-07-03T14:54:38Z")
_However, when UK had to unban it a couple of years later, after an American snuff producer had argued that the ban was against EU regulations, it was a very discreet thing._ I don’t remember that. There were various legal machinations, but the UK ban was finalised in 1993 under EC regulations from which Sweden got an exemption. See the [ash.org.uk factsheet](http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/basic04.html) or the [Department of Health memorandum](http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhealth/27/9111802.htm). ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/32 "2003-07-03T14:54:38Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by BrainGlutton_ > The existence of these bottles is the only indication I have ever encountered that snuff is, or ever was, popular in China. Does anyone know if the Chinese still take snuff? Or still make snuff-bottles? Snuff did achieve a modicum of popularity in China, but mainly among the upper classes. Its use probably declined with the revolution and the explosion of cigarette popularity. I don’t know if snuff bottles are still being made, but there are several places online where one can purchase them. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/33 "2003-07-03T16:28:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by raygirvan \* > _However, when UK had to unban it a couple of years later, after an American snuff producer had argued that the ban was against EU regulations, it was a very discreet thing._ > > I don’t remember that. There were various legal machinations, but the UK ban was finalised in 1993 under EC regulations from which Sweden got an exemption. See the [ash.org.uk factsheet](http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/basic04.html) or the [Department of Health memorandum](http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhealth/27/9111802.htm). I just remember having read something in passing, so I really don’t know the details about it. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531/34 "2003-07-03T17:05:13Z")
The Skoal Bandits saga was [very messy](http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/030i/sp0133.htm). One angle I’d forgotten was that the infamous Neil Hamilton was involved: an early episode of the long-running scandal about his unregistered interests. He and the other MP who lobbied against the ban, ostensibly on libertarian grounds, turned out to be in the process of financial dealings with US Tobacco, the makers of the things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-snuff/185531.md?page=1)