On "World No Tobacco Day," the World Health Organization commemorates the efforts to reduce tobacco consumption. Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European Union, is nearing the declaration of being "smoke-free." This means that the population has less than 5 percent of daily smokers, according to APNews.
Some people believe that the decrease in smoking rates over the years is due to the efforts of anti-smoking campaigns and laws. Others attribute it to the popularity of snus, a type of tobacco that is not smoked and is only legal in Sweden.
In 2019, only 6.4 percent of Swedes over the age of 15 smoked cigarettes on a daily basis. This is the lowest percentage in the European Union, which has an average of 18.5 percent daily smokers among its 27 member states, as reported by the Eurostat statistics agency.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has indicated that the smoking rate has continued to decrease, with only 5.6 percent of Swedes smoking daily in the previous year.
The Importance of Awareness and Extensive Measures
Swedes, especially the younger generations, are aware of the dangers associated with smoking. Two decades ago, around 20 percent of the population smoked, which was considered low compared to other countries.
Sweden has taken more extensive measures compared to other countries to eliminate the use of cigarettes, and as a result, they have observed various advantages to health, which include a comparatively lower occurrence of lung cancer.
According to Ulrika Årehed, the secretary-general of the Swedish Cancer Society, they took early action in limiting smoking in public areas, starting with school playgrounds and after-school centers and then moving on to restaurants, outdoor cafes, and public places such as bus stations.
Additionally, they implemented high taxes on cigarettes and imposed rigorous limitations on advertising these products, which also contributed significantly to their efforts.
Read also: US Adult Cigarette Smoking Rate Drops to Record Low, Signaling Positive Trend
Fewer Swedes Smoking, Thanks to Snus?
It is becoming less common to see people smoking in Sweden, a country with a population of 10.5 million. Smoking is not allowed at bus stops, train platforms, or near hospital entrances and other public buildings. Similar to other parts of Europe, smoking is banned inside bars and restaurants. In addition, Sweden's smoking ban also extends to outdoor seating areas since 2019.
People in Stockholm were having a good time on Tuesday night, eating and drinking while enjoying the sun that was setting late. Although there were no cigarettes in sight, some tables had cans of snus. A few customers even placed small pouches of moist tobacco between their upper lips while drinking beer.
Swedish snus manufacturers have been promoting their product as a safer option in comparison to smoking, and have been taking credit for the decrease in smoking rates in their country. However, despite this, Swedish health authorities are not encouraging smokers to switch to snus due to it being another highly addictive nicotine-based product.
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