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Sweden close to becoming first ‘smoke free’ country in Europe as daily use of cigarettes dwindles

FILE - A woman opens a box of tobacco-free white snus (snuff), in Stockholm. April 14, 2022. Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in Europe is now close to declaring itself “smoke free,” defined as having less than 5% daily smokers in the population. Some experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of “snus,” a smokeless tobacco product that’s illegal elsewhere in the European Union but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes. (Paul Wennerholm/TT News Agency via AP, File)
FILE - A woman opens a box of tobacco-free white snus (snuff), in Stockholm. April 14, 2022. Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in Europe is now close to declaring itself “smoke free,” defined as having less than 5% daily smokers in the population. Some experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of “snus,” a smokeless tobacco product that’s illegal elsewhere in the European Union but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes. (Paul Wennerholm/TT News Agency via AP, File)

By KARL RITTER and CHARLENE PELE / Associated Press 6 min read

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Summer is in the air, cigarette smoke is not, in Sweden’s outdoor bars and restaurants.

As the World Health Organization marks “World No Tobacco Day” on Wednesday, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the Europe Union, is close to declaring itself “smoke free” — defined as having fewer than 5% daily smokers in the population.

Many experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of “snus,” a smokeless tobacco product that is banned elsewhere in the EU but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes.

Whatever the reason, the 5% milestone is now within reach. Only 6.4% of Swedes over 15 were daily smokers in 2019, the lowest in the EU and far below the average of 18.5% across the 27-nation bloc, according to the Eurostat statistics agency.

Figures from the Public Health Agency of Sweden show the smoking rate has continued to fall since then, reaching 5.6% last year.