Sweden becomes Europe’s first ‘smoke-free’ country

Sweden is about to declare itself Europe’s first ‘smoke-free’ country – defined as less than 5 percent of the population’s daily smokers.

Some experts have said Sweden’s smoking rate – the lowest in the European Union – is due to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of ‘snus’, a smokeless tobacco product banned elsewhere in the EU but being placed on the market. in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes.

The 5 percent milestone is now within reach, as statistics from the Swedish Public Health Service show that the daily number of smokers reached 5.6 percent last year.

By comparison, 13.3 per cent of UK adults smoke cigarettes, equating to around 6.6 million people, according to the latest 2021 government figures.

Meanwhile, in 2019, only 6.4 percent of Swedes over 15 smoked daily, the lowest in the EU and well below the average of 18.5 percent in the bloc of 27 countries, according to Eurostat’s statistics office.

Sweden, which has the lowest smoking rate in Europe, is now on the verge of declaring itself ‘smoke-free’. Some experts credit decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of “snus,” (pictured) a smokeless tobacco product illegal elsewhere in the European Union but marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes.

Figures from the Public Health Agency of Sweden show that the number of smokers has since continued to fall to 5.6 percent last year.

Carina Astorsson, a resident of Stockholm, said: ‘We like a healthy way of life, I think that’s why.’

Smoking has never interested her, she added, because “I don’t like the smell; I want to take care of my body’.

The risks of smoking seem to be well understood by health-conscious Swedes, including among younger generations.

Twenty years ago, almost 20 percent of the population smoked – which was a low percentage worldwide at the time. Since then, measures to discourage smoking have reduced the number of smokers across Europe, including a ban on smoking in restaurants.

France saw a record drop in smoking rates from 2014 to 2019, but that success reached a plateau during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic – partly responsible for causing stress that prompted people to light up.

About a third of people aged 18 to 75 in France reported having smoked in 2021 – a slight increase from 2019. About a quarter smoke daily.

Sweden has gone further than most other countries in eradicating cigarettes, saying this has resulted in a range of health benefits, including a relatively low rate of lung cancer.

Ulrika Arehed, Secretary General of the Swedish Cancer Society, said: ‘We were early in restricting smoking in public areas, first in schoolyards and after-school centres, and later in restaurants, cafes and public places such as bus stations.

“At the same time, taxes on cigarettes and strict restrictions on the marketing of these products have played an important role.”

A man holds a box of snuff in a store in Stockholm, Sweden (file image)

She added that “Sweden is not there yet,” noting that the proportion of smokers is higher in disadvantaged socio-economic groups.

The sight of people lighting up is becoming increasingly rare in the country of 10.5 million. Smoking is prohibited at bus stops and platforms and outside the entrances of hospitals and other public buildings.

As in most of Europe, smoking is not allowed in bars and restaurants, but since 2019 the Swedish smoking ban also applies to their outdoor seating areas.

Swedish snus manufacturers have long touted their product as a less harmful alternative to smoking, taking credit for the country’s declining smoking rates. But Swedish health authorities are hesitant to advise smokers to switch to snus, another highly addictive nicotine product.

Some research has linked snus to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and preterm birth when used during pregnancy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes the declining number of smokers in Sweden to a combination of tobacco control measures, including information campaigns, advertising bans and ‘quitting support’ for those who want to quit smoking.

However, the agency noted that tobacco use in Sweden exceeds 20% of the adult population, which is similar to the global average when snus and similar products are included.

“Switching from one harmful product to another is not a solution,” the WHO said. “Promoting a so-called ‘harm reduction approach’ to smoking is another way the tobacco industry is trying to mislead people about the inherently dangerous nature of these products.”