International health experts urge Spain to adopt Swedish anti-smoking strategies
Stockholm, 25 April – In a new public consultation submission, international health experts are calling on the Spanish government to emulate Sweden’s successful tobacco control strategies.
As part of the recent public consultation to amend RD 597/2017, which governs aspects of the manufacture, presentation, and marketing of tobacco products, Smoke Free Sweden submitted a detailed report titled “The Swedish Experience: A Roadmap to a Smoke Free Society.” This report includes several policy recommendations aimed at guiding Spanish tobacco legislation.
Smoke Free Sweden’s submission strongly encourages the Spanish government to consider Sweden’s strategies, as the nation is nearing a historic achievement of becoming smoke free, with less than 5% of the adult population currently smoking. This success is attributed largely to the availability of alternatives like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. In contrast, Spain reports a smoking rate of 17%. Sweden’s progress has been significantly driven by harm reduction strategies and the promotion of smoke free alternatives.
Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden and co-author of the report, commented:
“Sweden’s innovative approach to tobacco control presents a practical and effective model for Spain to adopt in its upcoming legislative revisions. Implementing the Swedish strategies could not only save numerous Spanish lives but also serve as a model for global public health efforts aimed at reducing smoking rates.“
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Notes to editors
Contact
Smoke Free Sweden
Jessica Perkins
info@smokefreesweden.org
www.smokefreesweden.org
About Smoke Free Sweden
Smoke Free Sweden is a movement that encourages other countries to follow the Swedish experience when it comes to Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden is about to become the first ‘smoke free’ European country, with a smoking rate of below 5 percent. This remarkable achievement can be attributed to Sweden’s open attitude towards alternative products.
For more information on Sweden’s successful approach to becoming a smoke free nation, please visit www.smokefreesweden.org.