Sweden close to becoming first 'smoke-free' country in Europe

FILE - Cigarette butts sit in an ashtray at a bus stop. (Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images) STOCKHOLM - Summer is in the air, cigarette smoke is not, in Sweden's outdoor bars and restaurants.As the World Health Organization marked "World No Tobacco Day" on Wednesday, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the Europe 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, according to the Eurostat statistics agency.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.

Smoking never interested her, she added, because "I don’t like the smell; I want to take care of my body."The study was linked to increased levels of pain — even after quitting.The risks of smoking appear well understood among health-conscious Swedes, including younger generations.

Twenty years ago, almost 20% of the population were smokers — which was a low rate globally at the time. Since then, measures to discourage smoking have brought down smoking rates across Europe, including bans on smoking in restaurants.France saw record drops in smoking rates.