Sweden Smoke-Free – A Global Tobacco Harm Model
Sweden has become the first nation to formally adopt tobacco harm reduction as a key component of its public health policy. This decision comes after the country successfully reduced its smoking rate to just 4.5% among Swedish-born adults, dropping below the 5% threshold for a smoke-free society.
Sweden’s success in curbing smoking rates can be attributed to its stance on promoting safer nicotine alternatives, such as snus, nicotine pouches, and vapes. By prioritizing the reduction of harm rather than solely focusing on reducing tobacco use, Sweden has demonstrated that encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives can lead to significant public health benefits.
Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, praises the country’s approach, stating that “Swedes have participated in a long-running harm reduction experiment, providing undeniable proof that replacing smoking with smokeless nicotine dramatically reduces smoking-related disease, disability and premature deaths – a net gain for public health, while reducing expenditure.“
The newly adopted policy, which was passed by Parliament in December 2024, acknowledges the varying levels of harm associated with different tobacco products and emphasizes the need for taxation and policy goals to reflect this understanding. Sweden has already taken steps to implement risk-based taxation by lowering excise tax on snus while increasing it on cigarettes.
The impact of Sweden’s harm reduction approach extends beyond its borders, with Swedish citizens born elsewhere in Europe having a smoking rate of just 7.8%, significantly lower than the EU average. Moreover, Sweden boasts 41% fewer cancer cases and 44% lower tobacco-related mortality compared to the European average.
Other nations that have followed Sweden’s lead in promoting safer nicotine alternatives have witnessed similar successes. New Zealand has nearly halved its smoking rates between 2018 and 2024 by encouraging vaping, while Japan saw a 43% drop in cigarette sales from 2015 to 2020 as smokers switched to heated tobacco products.
Dr. Human urges policymakers worldwide to take note of Sweden’s remarkable achievement and follow suit in adopting tobacco harm reduction strategies. “In every tobacco control discussion, regulators should ask, ‘How have Swedes made smoking history, while saving lives?‘” he concludes.
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