Sweden Set to Become Europe’s First “Smoke-Free” Nation
Sweden is on the verge of becoming the first country in Europe to be officially classified as “smoke-free,” with its daily smoking rate falling below the World Health Organization’s 5% threshold. The prevalence of daily smokers has plummeted from 15% in 2005 to just 5.2% last year, continuing its downward trend.
This achievement is attributed to decades of public health campaigns and the widespread adoption of safer alternatives like Snus and nicotine pouches. As the only EU nation permitting Snus sales, Sweden has seen about 18% of its population switch to these smokeless products. Consequently, daily smoking has dropped by 55% in the last decade, correlating with significant declines in tobacco-related deaths (38%) and lung cancer cases (41%) among men.
Experts hail Sweden’s pragmatic model—combining regulation, awareness, and accessible harm-reduction alternatives—as a blueprint for other nations aiming to reduce smoking rates.
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