Sensational new data shows Sweden ‘already smoke-free’

STOCKHOLM – Sensational new research shows that Sweden is wiping out smoking even faster than previously thought.

Latest statistics from the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN) reveal that daily smoking has fallen to just 3.7% – well below the global ‘smoke-free’ benchmark of 5%.

The findings also show that this historic reduction in smoking has been accompanied by a rise in the use of safer nicotine alternatives such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes, which offer smokers a viable route away from cigarettes. 

Yet, alarmingly, European policymakers have chosen to ignore Sweden’s real-world success in their latest assessment of the EU’s tobacco laws.

The European Commission’s evaluation report, published last week, credits existing measures with reducing EU smoking rates from 28% in 2012 to 24% today – a modest 14% decline – and goes on to attack the innovative products that are producing far better results in Sweden.

Sweden has halved smoking over the same period, by ensuring that safer nicotine alternatives are acceptable, accessible and affordable.

As a result, Sweden now has the lowest smoking rates in Europe and a dramatically reduced disease burden, including male lung cancer mortality 61% below the EU average and total cancer deaths 34% lower.

However, the only mention of Sweden in the Commission’s report is as a cautionary tale about the use of nicotine pouches.

Dr Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden and former Secretary-General of the World Medical Association, says disregarding Sweden’s success is a critical failure.

“This report should have been a turning point for Europe,” he said. “Instead, it ignores the most successful public health model on the continent.

“The Commission acknowledges that smoking is falling too slowly, yet it is preparing to restrict the very alternatives that are accelerating that decline in Sweden.”

The Commission’s evaluation is expected to inform the next Tobacco Products Directive (TPD3), raising concerns that future regulation could limit access to vapes, nicotine pouches and other reduced-risk products.

Dr Human said: “Nicotine does not cause cancer – smoke does. Sweden has succeeded because it recognises that distinction and gives smokers access to acceptable, affordable alternatives.

“If policymakers disregard this evidence, they risk entrenching cigarette use rather than eliminating it.

“CAN’s new findings showing Sweden is already smoke-free are hugely encouraging, and we look forward to the Public Health Agency of Sweden confirming them when it publishes its latest statistics later this year.

“If these trends are validated, Sweden will be confirmed as the clearest real-world example that tobacco harm reduction works and has provided the model that Europe should be trying to emulate, rather than choosing to ignore.”

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