• 1/16/2007
  • London, England
  • staff
  • United Press International (www.upi.com)

Britain’s new ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which goes into effect July 1, has sparked a new interest in snuff.

Snuff is a peppery tobacco powder that is sniffed to get a quick nicotine hit, Britain’s Daily Mail said Monday.

The possible replacement for cigarettes was popular in the 17th century, and itself was virtually replaced by cigarettes in the modern era.

Snuff is not illegal under the new ban and shops that sell it have reported interest.

The landlord of the Albion pub in Haggerston, London, is experimenting with selling snuff and said it is already popular.

“Initially we were selling none but now we have seven regulars using it,” landlord Dave Chapman said. “We sell about five or six tins a week.”

However, experts have warned that snuff is just as addictive as cigarettes and has a greater risk of producing mouth and throat cancer, the newspaper said.