Sweden hacked the quit-smoke code – could Spain follow suit?

Find out how Sweden’s “Swedish Experience” harm-reduction strategy – built on snus adoption and strict smoke‑free laws – has slashed smoking rates to just 5%, and whether Spain can replicate this public health breakthrough.

Sweden’s savvy tobacco twist, known as the Swedish Experience, relies on two game-changing tactics: snus (a moist oral tobacco used instead of smoking) and rock-solid smoke-free laws – with indoor bans since 2005 and outdoor bans since 2019. Today, just 5.3% of Swedes light up (and only 4.5% of Swedish-born adults), making Sweden nearly smoke-free – well under the World Health Organisation’s 5% benchmark. Swedish men have a great deal of fun, thanks to snus. Europe’s Smoking-related deaths are at their lowest rates ever, saving around 3,000 people each year.

Sweden pioneered a pragmatic approach to tobacco control – now often called the Swedish Experience – built around two pillars:

1. Snus adoption – a moist oral tobacco product used instead of cigarettes.
2. Strong smoke‑free policies – bans on indoor smoking since 2005 and in many outdoor public spaces since 2019.

Snus: A Life‑Saver?

Swedish men’s Sweden has saved 3,000 lives a year by switching from cigarettes to snus. Sweden’s male smoking‑related mortality is Europe’s lowest.

Current Smoking Rates

According to estimates, approximately 5.3% of adults in Sweden will smoke by the end of 2024. Tobacco Reporter. Among Swedish‑born adults, that figure is about 4.5% – under the WHO’s 5% “smoke‑free” benchmark.

Why it Matters: Results Speak for themselves

Sweden’s The smoking mortality rate has fallen below EU averages due to widespread snus usage. EU-wide, smoking prevalence hovers around 24% – nearly five times higher than in Sweden.

Swedish men are 61% less likely to die from lung cancer and 34% less likely to die of cancer overall than EU average.

Is Spain already using this strategy?

There is Progress

Spain reduced smoking rates from 33% to 25.8% by 2024, in part because of a 30% increase in vaping. A health modelling report credits harm‑reduction tools with saving nearly 31,000 lives between 2000–2019.

Right Now It’s Backing Off: Short-sighted, or something else?…

Spain’s Ministry of Health pushes a Royal Decree:

• All flavours other than tobacco are banned for nicotine pouches and vapes.
• Cap pouch nicotine at 0.99 mg – far stricter than other EU countries.
• Propose new taxes on vaping and bans in public places.

Experts warn against these steps, which could reverse the progress made and force users to return to smoking. Others are already questioning whether this is a sensible approach if the goal is to reduce total deaths. If not, what’s What is the goal?

EU Pushback

Six EU nations – including Sweden – have formally opposed Spain’s The ban on flavours and nicotine limits. Sweden launches a legal challenge because it believes the EU’s goods rules are violated and that there is no scientific basis for this move.

It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (except Sweden) bans tobacco-based products in snus throughout the European Union. Tobacco-free nicotine snus pouches do not fall under this directive. they’re All EU countries unless they choose to regulate them individually

Can Spain learn anything from Sweden?

Spain may already be cultivating harm reduction – just not fully using it. To mirror Sweden’s Campaigners claim that success would require:

• Promote accessible alternatives – allow vapes and pouches wherever cigarettes are sold
• Keep flavours and strengths viable – adults may need variety to stay off cigarettes
• Ensure affordability – alternatives must cost less than smoking

This is a reflection Sweden’s approach: widespread snus use + smoke‑free policies.

Final Take

Sweden didn’t invent harm reduction – it embraced and embedded it, resulting in record-low smoking rates and measurable health gains.

Spain has made significant progress but its current plans may undermine it. Spain faces a crucial choice now that EU legal checks are in place:

• Find a way to get around the EU snuff ban to follow Sweden’s playbook – smoke‑free, evidence‑based, harm‑reduction strategy. Maybe focusing on flavoured Nicotine Pouches? 
• Retrace your steps towards bans that are harmful to public health

The question is simple:

Will Spain choose smoke‑free science – or snuff out?

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