Sweden is Way Ahead
Sweden is way ahead, according to leading international health experts, as the European Commission sets its smoke-free goal for 2040
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by Dave Cross
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Leading international health experts today backed the European Commission’s call for a tobacco-free generation by 2040 while pointing out that Sweden has already cultivated multiple smoke-free generations through its pioneering harm-reduction strategies. The Scandinavian nation is way ahead of other European nations when it comes to tackling tobacco addiction, Smoke Free Sweden says.
Sweden has seen an extraordinary 55% decline in smoking rates over the past decade by making safer alternatives to cigarettes - such as snus, modern oral nicotine pouches and vapes - acceptable, accessible and affordable.
In a global benchmark, Swedes are now set to be officially declared as “smoke-free” later this year.
Dr Delon Human is a harm-reduction advocate and leader of Smoke Free Sweden. Dr Human has acted as adviser to three directors-general of the World Health Organization and to the UN secretary-general on global public health strategies.
He said: “Sweden's model is a testament to the power of offering safer alternatives to smoking.
“By making safer alternatives accessible and socially acceptable, Sweden has been able to drive down smoking rates more effectively than any other country and years ahead of target.
“Sweden is way ahead of the game and its approach should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the European Union as it strives for a smoke-free generation by 2040, as well as for the wider world.”
Smoke Free Sweden states that the impact of Sweden’s harm-reduction strategy is “remarkable”.
Compared to the rest of the European Union, Sweden now has:
- 44% fewer tobacco-related deaths
- A cancer rate 41% lower
- 38% fewer deaths attributable to any form of cancer
Dr Human went on to add: “These extraordinary statistics demonstrate the long-term benefits of harm-reduction strategies, which prioritise reducing the harm caused by smoking through innovative alternatives.”
Commenting on the fact that Sweden’s is expected to officially be classified as “smoke-free” due to its smoking rate falling below the 5% threshold, Dr Human added: “This milestone represents a significant victory in public health and has already created a ripple effect among the young. Today, only 3% of Swedes aged 16-29 smoke, signalling that Sweden’s progressive approach has already produced an entire smoke-free generation.
“Smoke Free Sweden encourages EU member states to adopt Sweden’s model of making safer alternatives to smoking widely available. Sweden's achievement is proof that a smoke-free Europe is within reach, and that proactive harm-reduction policies can save millions of lives.”
The European Commission revision calls on EU countries to:
- extend the coverage of smoke-free policies to key outdoor areas, including outdoor recreational areas for children such as public playgrounds, amusement parks and swimming pools, as well as public buildings and transport stops and stations.
- extend smoke-free policies to emerging products such as heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, which increasingly reach very young users. The World Health Organization recently highlighted the negative effects of exposure to second-hand emissions from these products, including significant respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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