Opening a can of snus is simple once you know what the two lids are for. You twist or lift the main lid to reach the pouches, and the smaller compartment on top is for storing used ones until you can bin them. That is the whole trick. Below is the step-by-step, plus the small things that catch people out the first time.
A quick note on wording. What you can legally buy in the UK is a nicotine pouch rather than tobacco snus, but the cans work the same way and most people still call the whole thing snus. If you want the background on that difference, see what is snus.
How to open a snus can step by step
Most cans use one of two designs, a screw lid or a click-shut lid. The steps are almost the same either way.
- Hold the can upright in one hand so the pouches stay settled at the bottom.
- Find the main lid. On a screw-top you turn it anticlockwise. On a click-top you press the edge with your thumb and lift.
- Peel back the thin foil or paper seal if the can is brand new. This seal keeps the pouches fresh and is only there on the first open.
- Take one pouch from inside. Press the lid back down or screw it shut so the rest do not dry out.
That is all there is to the main compartment. The part that confuses people is the second lid.
What the lid on top of a snus can is for
Nearly every modern can has a shallow compartment built into the top, sealed by its own small lid. It is not extra storage for fresh pouches. It is a bin for used ones. When you are finished with a pouch, you tuck it into that top section and empty it later. This keeps a used pouch off tables and out of pockets when there is no bin nearby.
So a single can does two jobs at once. Fresh pouches live in the base, and used pouches wait in the lid. Once you have seen it, you will spot the same layout on almost every can.
How to open snus without spilling
Spills happen when the can is upside down or shaken before opening. A few habits prevent it.
- Keep the can upright for a few seconds before you open it, especially if it has been in a bag or pocket.
- Open the main lid slowly rather than flicking it, so pouches do not spring out.
- Take one pouch at a time instead of tipping several into your hand.
- Close the lid fully after each use. A lid left ajar is the usual reason a can dries out or scatters.
Do you open the snus pouch itself?
No. The individual sachet stays sealed. You do not tear it open or empty the contents. The pouch is designed to go under your upper lip whole, so the fibre holds everything in place while the nicotine releases. Opening the sachet would only make a mess and defeat the point of the portioned format. For what to do next, see how to use snus.
Common problems when opening snus
If the lid feels stuck, it is usually the first-open seal still in place. Peel that off and it will move freely. If pouches feel dry when you open a can that has been sitting a while, the lid was probably not shut fully last time, so press it down firmly after each use. And if the top compartment already has a used pouch in it from earlier, empty it before you add another, otherwise it overfills.
ALP pouches come in eight flavours across three strengths, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg. You can see the full range of ALP nicotine pouches if you are deciding what to try.
This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.
Common questions about how to open snus
How do you open a snus can for the first time?
Hold the can upright, open the main lid by unscrewing or lifting it, then peel off the thin foil or paper seal underneath. That seal is only there on a new can and keeps the pouches fresh until first use.
What is the small lid on top of a snus can for?
The top compartment is a bin for used pouches, not storage for fresh ones. You tuck a finished pouch into it and empty it later, which keeps used pouches off surfaces when no bin is nearby.
Do you open the snus pouch before using it?
No. The sachet stays sealed and goes under your upper lip whole. The fibre holds the contents in place while the nicotine releases, so there is no need to tear it open.
Why does my snus can feel stuck when I try to open it?
It is usually the first-open seal still in place rather than the lid itself. Peel the seal off and the lid will turn or lift freely. If pouches feel dry, the lid was likely not closed fully after the last use.
