Regulators accused of stubbing out Sweden’s ‘solution’ to smoking
July 13, 2026 by observer.co.uk
Regulators accused of stubbing out Sweden’s ‘solution’ to smoking
Sweden’s success in reducing smoking should be studied, not sidelined. By allowing adults access to smoke-free nicotine alternatives, the country has shown that tobacco control can move faster when policy reflects relative risk. If regulators ignore that lesson, they risk protecting outdated approaches while smokers elsewhere are denied more practical routes away from cigarettes. The goal should be less disease and fewer deaths — not loyalty to one narrow model of quitting.
9.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 867,000 current smokers in Sweden 11.70% of men are current smokers but only 8.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
