STORTING (Dagbladet): Next week the government will present the Public Health Report. It will be the government’s national strategy for equalizing inequalities in health-related matters.
Here, Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) will, among other things, come up with a new tobacco strategy.
Among the proposals that should have been on the table is a ban on flavored snus. According to what Dagbladet learns, this ban will not come to pass.
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Good news?
The – for many – happy news is confirmed by several independent sources with close knowledge of the government’s work with the Public Health Report.
Around 55 percent of all snus sold on the Norwegian market is flavored snus.
PRESENTED: On Friday next week, Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol will announce the Public Health Report. Photo: Photo: Shad Madian / Dagbladet
sea view
In his input to the Public Health Report, the Cancer Association proposed, among other things, that “characteristic flavors that appeal to young people” be banned. This is not how it will be, according to Dagbladet’s experience.
According to several of the manufacturers themselves, the number of flavored snus is actually much higher, as most “original” snus is something taste. For example, General is flavored with bergamot.
– We are against it
Another proposal that has been mentioned in connection with the government’s tobacco strategy is a lifelong tobacco ban for future generations, which New Zealand has introduced.
– Immensely surprised
While Norwegians smoke far less than before, snuff use has gone in the opposite direction. Sniffing is far more common among the younger than the older. In the age group 25–34, 27 per cent, or 1 in 4, used snus daily in 2022. This is a doubling since 2012, figures from SSB.
On NRK’s The debate however, Sp’s parliamentary leader, Geir Pollestad, made it clear that Sp does not support a lifelong tobacco ban.
– We are against that, he said there.
Pollestad also clarified that the Center Party was opposed to a ban on flavored snus.
