Photo: Raphael Andres | Unsplash
As the World Health Organization marks "World No Tobacco Day" this week, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European 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. Figures from the Public Health Agency of Sweden show the smoking rate has continued to fall since then, reaching 5.6% last year. "We like a healthy way to live, I think that's the reason," said Carina Astorsson, a Stockholm resident.
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