Sweden Takes Key Step Toward a Smoke-Free World with New Policy
Sweden has officially enshrined tobacco harm reduction in its public health policy, becoming the first nation to demonstrate that this approach is the most effective pathway to a smoke-free future. This milestone cements Sweden’s global leadership in public health innovation and could serve as a model for other countries seeking to eliminate smoking-related diseases and deaths.
Sweden’s Success in Reducing Smoking Rates
Sweden’s progressive stance on safer nicotine alternatives has resulted in a dramatic decline in smoking rates. Today, only 4.5% of Swedish adults born in Sweden smoke—well below the 5% threshold that qualifies a nation as smoke-free. This achievement has been driven by policies that encourage smokers to transition to less harmful alternatives, including snus (a smokeless tobacco product), nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes.
Sweden’s Parliament recognized this success by officially adopting a harm reduction approach to tobacco control in December 2024. The new directive states:
“Tobacco policy must take into account the different harmful effects of different products. Cigarettes pose a greater health risk than smokeless nicotine… This must be reflected in taxation and policy objectives.”
By prioritizing risk-based taxation, Sweden has reduced excise taxes on snus while increasing taxes on cigarettes. This shift incentivizes smokers to adopt less harmful alternatives, reinforcing the government’s commitment to public health.
The Role of Harm Reduction in Public Health
Dr. Delon Human, head of Smoke Free Sweden, has hailed Sweden’s policy shift as a landmark moment in global public health.
“The Swedes have participated in a long-term harm reduction experiment and provided incontrovertible evidence that replacing smoking with smokeless nicotine dramatically reduces smoking-related disease, disability, and premature death—a net gain for public health while reducing expenditures.”
According to Dr. Human, Sweden’s decision to formalize harm reduction as a national policy means that this principle will now be integrated into all public health decisions. He urges other nations to follow suit:
“Now that harm reduction is a policy in Sweden, this approach will be reflected in every public health decision. Other countries should adopt the Swedish model without further delay.”
Sweden’s Impact on Public Health Outcomes
The impact of Sweden’s tobacco harm reduction strategy is evident in its public health statistics:
- Swedish citizens have 41% fewer cancer cases compared to the European average.
- Sweden has a 44% lower tobacco-related mortality rate than other EU countries.
- Among Swedish citizens born in other European countries, the smoking rate is 7.8%, significantly lower than the EU average of over 25%.
These results demonstrate that harm reduction does not merely reduce smoking rates—it also leads to substantial improvements in health outcomes and reductions in healthcare costs.
The Global Influence of Sweden’s Model
Sweden is not alone in recognizing the benefits of tobacco harm reduction. Other countries implementing similar strategies have experienced comparable success:
- New Zealand: By actively promoting vaping, New Zealand has nearly halved its smoking rate, dropping from 12.2% in 2018 to 6.9% in 2024.
- Japan: The introduction of heated tobacco products led to a 43% decline in cigarette sales between 2015 and 2020.
- United Kingdom: Nearly three million people quit smoking in just five years by switching to vaping, showcasing the effectiveness of harm reduction strategies.
These examples reinforce the idea that tobacco harm reduction policies can be successfully replicated worldwide, helping to curb smoking-related diseases and reduce the global burden of tobacco use.
A Call to Action for Other Nations
approach challenges conventional tobacco control strategies that focus solely on reducing tobacco consumption. Instead, prioritizes reducing the harm associated with nicotine use, a strategy that has proven to be far more effective than traditional prohibitionist measures.
Dr. Human calls on global regulators to take inspiration from success:
“In any discussion about tobacco control, regulators should ask themselves: ‘How did the Swedes make smoking history and save lives in the process?’”
With a smoking rate now at just 5.3%, is on track to becoming the first smoke-free nation. By adopting risk-based taxation, promoting safer nicotine alternatives, and integrating harm reduction into public health policy, has provided a blueprint for other countries to follow.
