Sweden is the first European country to be smoke-free… and the secret is in a “bag” – Cedar News

Sweden has become the first smoke-free country in Europe, thanks to the circulation of a controversial alternative product on local markets.

Smokers are now using a pouch known as “snus,” which contains moist tobacco, by placing it under the upper lip.

The Swedish government revealed that one in every 7 people uses this bag, which contributed to reducing the number of smokers to only 5.2% last year.

Sweden is now classified as smoke-free, after the percentage of smokers decreased to only 5%.

However, Sweden’s approach was criticized by some, especially since the alternative, represented by the “snous” bag, sparked controversy due to its harmful effects decades ago, to the point that the European Union banned its use.

Sweden obtained an exemption from this decision after years of negotiating with the European Union, such that one of its companies now sells 277 million boxes of these bags.

Agence France-Presse reported a statement by Swedish Health Minister Jakob Forsmed, in which he said that the decision to ban smoking in restaurants in 2005, and then in public places in 2019, was important, explaining that citizens had quit smoking thanks to “Snus” bags.

In recent years, the government has relied on supporting the manufacture of these bags, while raising the value of taxes imposed on cigarettes by 9%, in exchange for reducing them on wet tobacco by 20%.

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