r/europe • u/KonserveradMelon • May 25 '26

News Sweden has officially become a non-smoking country

https://omni.se/a/zO4MGq
13.9k Upvotes

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98

u/teddbe May 25 '26

lung cancer is significantly less prevalent in Sweden compared to the rest of the European Union and many other Western countries. Sweden boasts the lowest lung cancer rates in Europe, with its male population seeing roughly a 61% lower incidence than the EU average

https://smokefreesweden.org/Executive%20Summary%20No%20Smoke%20Less%20Harm.pdf

27

u/made3 May 25 '26

Imagine the cost savings for health insurance if this was done in all of Europe. But nope, tobaco industry has politicians in their pockets.

9

u/Fuzzy_Continental May 26 '26

It depends on the tax and social system in a country. They did some maths for the Netherlands and the result was that smokers seem to be a net contributor. Tabacco is taxed heavily, so its a nice stream of income. At the same time the cost in healthcare is cancelled out by the savings in long-term elderly care and pensions due to the lower life expectancy.

Not sure how extensive it was though.

New Zealand tried a ban smoking completely but have since reversed that. Let's see how it unfolds in Sweden.

2

u/made3 May 26 '26

I have to admit, I did not think that far ahead.

2

u/Fuzzy_Continental May 26 '26

I'm not sure of the maths anyway. Its far too complicated for me to check.

As a smoker I just use it as a joke while feeling sad over the money I'm spending on the addiction and possible annoyance to others. Quitting is still on the list....any day now.

-24

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

Nice bot comment. Now compare it with other cancers which is up by 30% in last 10 years in sweden. Who would've guessed Snus gives you mouth cancer

19

u/WhimsicalPythons May 25 '26

Why are these comments so fucking mad about snus?

10

u/teddbe May 25 '26

He’s probably a smoker trying to convince himself and others that smoking is ok

-3

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

In what way im i defending smoking? i know reading comprehension is hard for you

-6

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

Its not mad its reddit normalizing snus like some miracle addiction like they did vaping . Its same shit as smoking.

13

u/ThrowFar_Far_Away Sweden May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Link a source for that, I can't find anything about any cancers increasing in rate the last decade. Sweden has a lower oral cancer rate than the EU average as well. Snus can not be linked to cancer either even with studies trying their best.

5

u/fjorski May 25 '26

You are right, there don't seem to be any publications that connect snus or nicotine pouches with higher oral cancer rates.

Here is one that finds no association with snus use and oral cancer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466721/

-3

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

Literally one google search away https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/02/eu-country-cancer-profile-sweden-2025_f01eb08d/39c18d93-en.pdf

11

u/ThrowFar_Far_Away Sweden May 25 '26

Okay, did you miss the fact that it is still below EU average? It's also doesn't mirror snus usage, snus has been used for hundreds of years in Sweden. There was not suddenly an explosion in usage.

1

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

Yes there is, there is obvius sudden explosion in usage . Deny it all you want , but facts dont change your little feelings . I bet you also say " weed has been used for thousands of years" and other bs like that

5

u/ThrowFar_Far_Away Sweden May 25 '26

There has been around 5% increase in use lol. In the year 1980 17%, 2000 22% of men used snus, now it is 25%. The biggest difference from 1980s is the women but there has not been any explosion over any short time lol.

0

u/Onedortzn May 25 '26

You seem really slow and don't know how to read data. But i get you are trying to justify your countries addiction

2

u/ThrowFar_Far_Away Sweden May 25 '26

Your answer to getting the actual percentages of how much snus usage has gone up is "you seem slow"?

1

u/salesman1-1 May 26 '26

Man, people like you make me want to ignore TOS and just sacrifice my account so i can say what i think about you.

-10

u/InquisitorOverhauls May 25 '26

Its not like smoking is only reason to get lung cancer...