How change in fiscal policy can help tackle smoking

When it comes to public health strategy, Sweden has shattered the glass ceiling of conventional wisdom, becoming the world’s foremost champion in reducing smoking rates. Swedish policymakers recently decided to slash taxes by 20 per cent on snus, a form of nicotine pouch that’s less harmful than cigarettes. It’s a move that will save lives and is a lesson in nuanced governance that could revolutionise public health in Kenya. The ongoing debate about the safety and regulation of alternative nicotine products often finds itself tangled in a web of misinformation and ideological rigidity.