STOCKHOLM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Swedish authorities officially confirmed it the current smoking in Sweden has fallen to 5.6%. This makes the Swedes the only European nation that is close to reaching the smoke-free goal that the EU set 18 years before the 2040 goal.

In an event organized by the Oral Nicotine Commission in Stockholm, the participants took stock of Sweden’s incredible achievements and leadership in the race against smoking. It is about to become the first country in the world to be defined as “smoke-free”, representing less than 5% of the population who smoke.

Sweden’s smoking rate has fallen since the 1980s from 35% to below 6% – a feat that has yet to be replicated by any other nation in the world. The second lowest smoking rate in Europe is twice as high as in Sweden, with the EU average around 23%, four times higher than in Sweden. The result is the lowest tobacco mortality rate in Europe.

A group of leading public health professionals, consumer advocates and harm reduction experts who met to celebrate the success on 30 November 2022 in Stockholm have reaffirmed their call to policy makers around the world to ensure that less harmful alternatives to smoking are available to support smokers to quit.

Commenting at the event, Dr. Delon Human, chairman of health diplomats and organizer of the event in Stockholm: “If all smokers in the world, approximately 1.1 billion people, were to switch to one of the less harmful alternative smoke-free, nicotine-based products, it could prevent disease and save millions of lives worldwide. Sweden has found the fire road for smokers. We must work together to repeat the Swedish experience globally to save lives.”

This incredible success story gave the participants the chance to better understand Sweden’s recipe for success, the key to this being its openness to less harmful alternatives to smoking. Snus has been at the forefront of reduction measures, but in recent years, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes have become another valuable tool for Swedish smokers aiming to quit.

The progressive, pro-harm reduction Swedish model is clearly distinct from the policies proposed by international organizations in favor of tobacco control. At EU level, harm reduction advocates have fought hard to have harm reduction recognized in the European Beating Cancer Plan. WHO still refuses to recognize its value, despite harm reduction being explicitly recognized in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Professor Karl Fagerström commented at the event: “The upcoming Swedish EU presidency is a fantastic opportunity to share its 5 percent success story with other EU countries. We hope that Sweden will be generous in sharing this knowledge internationally.”

Speakers at the conference emphasized the need for sound evidence-based policy interventions in tobacco control. This translates into the widespread adoption of tobacco harm reduction policies that support a journey towards smoking cessation.

Ensuring that less harmful alternatives to smoking are affordable, accessible and affordable will be crucial for other countries to be able to replicate Sweden’s success. This event is the beginning of much needed discussion on this topic.

The Oral Nicotine Commission is a global not-for-profit association that helps build the evidence base and increase awareness of oral nicotine among governments, public health leaders and the general public, thereby countering negative, unfounded preconceptions and stereotypes. It addresses policy, science, consumer issues and relevant product innovations. Its views are independent of any brand or manufacturer and focus on the individual and population health needs of adult smokers.