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The eight oldest kingdoms on the planet, Sweden is preparing to become the first European country to go smoke-free. The health-conscious Swedes very well understand the harm of smoking to themselves and the world and you know what we should learn from them.
So, let us dig into the detail and understand how they made it this far and are now on the verge of becoming a smoke-free nation and what is in there for us to learn.
It all started 20 years ago when 20% of Sweden's population was smoking and let me tell you it was still less figures 20 years ago if we see the global index. Since then, the government and the people are working on this cause to make Sweden smoke-free by practicing bans, discoursing youths from smoking, etc.
Sweden has made its best efforts to eradicate smoking, arguing that doing so contributed to a number of positive health effects, including a comparatively low rate of lung cancer. Sweden even imposed tax charges on cigarettes to stop the practice and imposed severe regulations on the marketing of these goods, both of which have significantly contributed.
Additionally, smoking is not permitted in bars and restaurants like it is in most of Europe, but in 2018, Sweden announced a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places like parks, train stations, bus stops, etc. Only 6.4% of Swedes over 15 smoked every day in 2019. According to statistics from Sweden's Public Health Agency, the rate has decreased since then and was 5.6% in 2022.
With barely 5% of the population smoking, Sweden is on the verge of being the first smoke-free nation in the European Union (EU) as per the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which they released on 31st May 2023, on the occasion of "World No Tobacco Day".
So, leave your cigarettes in the bins if you are planning to visit Sweden!
There is another interesting fact about Sweden's smoking control, but you should not take it as an alternative or get demotivated by the fact that you just decided to quit cigarettes. Reading further this should be for general knowledge and to create options for any alternatives or demotivation for removing cigarettes from your life.
Sweden has adopted a distinctive strategy for tobacco control that has significantly decreased smoking rates. Sweden has a long history of utilizing smokeless tobacco products like snus, unlike the majority of other nations. Under the top lip, snus is a form of moist powder tobacco. It has been demonstrated to be a helpful strategy for aiding smokers in quitting and is less dangerous than smoking.
Snus has the potential to be used as a harm-reduction tool, and the Swedish government has legislation in place to support its use. Snus, for instance, is permitted in Sweden, although public smoking is not. Snus is now regarded as a socially acceptable alternative to smoking as a result of this.
A smoke-free society would have numerous benefits for both individuals and society as a whole. Smoking causes many different types of health issues, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses, and it is the greatest preventable cause of death worldwide. By reducing smoking rates, a smoke-free society would reduce the burden of disease on healthcare systems and improve overall public health.
