Sweden is on the brink of becoming the first smoke-free country in Europe, a milestone largely attributed to the widespread use of a tobacco product called ‘Snus.’
This controversial yet popular product has played a significant role in reducing smoking rates in the country.
‘Snus’ is a moist tobacco or nicotine pouch, typically placed under the upper lip. Its use has surged in Sweden, with one in every seven Swedes opting for this alternative.
The government reports a drastic drop in smoking rates, from 15% in 2005 to a record low of 5.2% last year, the lowest in Europe.
A country is considered smoke-free when less than 5% of its population are daily smokers.
While wet tobacco pouches are banned in the European Union since 1992, Sweden secured an exemption upon joining the EU in 1995. ‘Swedish Match,’ a company in Gothenburg, is a major producer of these pouches, having sold 277 million boxes in Sweden, Norway, and the United States in 2021.
Patrick Hildingson of Swedish Match highlighted that Snus has been a part of Swedish culture for over 200 years, akin to the wine culture in many European countries.
Snus comes in two types: the traditional brown tobacco Snus and the white, often flavored, nicotine-only version. The latter, introduced about 15 years ago, falls in a legal grey area in the EU as it doesn’t contain tobacco.
It has been banned in Belgium and the Netherlands this year but remains popular among Swedish youth, particularly women aged 16-29.
Sweden’s sharp decline in smoking rates is noteworthy, especially as cigarette prices are relatively low compared to countries like Ireland.
Only 5% of Swedes report regular smoking, according to 2022 data, putting Sweden 27 years ahead of the EU’s 2050 goal to achieve similar rates.
Swedish Health Minister Jakob Forssmed lauded this progress, citing the ban on smoking in restaurants (since 2005) and public places (since 2019) as crucial steps.
Many Swedes credit switching to Snus as instrumental in quitting smoking. The government has also influenced this shift by raising taxes on cigarettes by 9% while reducing them by 20% on traditional wet tobacco.
Thorbiorn Thors, a 67-year-old window fitter and long-time Snus user, noted that smoking has become nearly impossible with the new regulations. He prefers Snus for its stronger nicotine effect and lack of smell.
However, not everyone agrees with the tax reduction on wet tobacco, including Ulrika Arheid Kagstrom, head of the Swedish Cancer Society, indicating a broader debate on public health policy.
