Sweden changes its tobacco policy goal – an important step in the fight against smoking
19th Sep 2024
Sweden has long had a tobacco policy goal of reducing all tobacco use in the country. But now, the government is choosing to shift its focus towards harm reduction.
– This is a milestone for all of Sweden’s snus, vape and nicotine pouch users, says Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Pouch Patrol.
Sweden has long been at the forefront in the war against smoking. With just over five percent of the population smoking, the country is soon considered smoke-free according to WHO’s definition. A major reason for Sweden’s success story is the availability of alternative nicotine products such as snus, nicotine pouches, and vapes, all of which are less harmful than cigarettes.
Now, Sweden’s tobacco policy goal will also be changed from reducing all tobacco use to reducing the social and medical harms of tobacco and nicotine products.
“Sweden and Swedish snus have long been a role model when it comes to smoking cessation. By changing the tobacco policy goal, the government makes the country an even greater example,” says Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Pouch Patrol.
WHO’s double standard
It’s worth noting the irony that the WHO opposes vaping, snus, and all other alternative nicotine products, even though harm reduction is written into the FCTC (the International Treaty on Tobacco Control). Article 1(d) of the treaty states: “tobacco control” means a range of supply, demand, and harm reduction strategies that aim to improve the health of a population by eliminating or reducing their consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke (nicotine is not mentioned).
“Countries that follow Article 1(d) by allowing, providing, or promoting consumer access to viable, attractive, reduced-risk alternative products, have the lowest smoking rates. This means incorporating the 3 pillars of tobacco control, including tobacco harm reduction (THR) in public health strategies—or at least facilitating it as Sweden has done so far. These countries are the UK, Sweden, and New Zealand,” says Markus Lindblad, concluding:
“Swedish snus and nicotine pouch users have led the way toward driving Sweden to become a (soon-to-be) smoke-free country. I hope Sweden’s decision can encourage new ways of thinking elsewhere, such as in the EU’s new Tobacco Products Directive or The Tobacco And Vapes Bill in the UK.”
