The government wants to reduce the use of smokeless nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and snus. This is clear after the government presented its proposal for a new ANDT strategy
"It would have been better to focus on the medical harms of tobacco, that is, put the main focus on reducing smoking," says David Josefsson (M), who is critical of the proposal.
This week, the government released its proposal for a new ANDT strategy. The strategy will guide policy work on alcohol, drugs, doping and tobacco. In the 100-page document, the government sets out the objectives for the next five years. In addition to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, the government also wants to focus on tobacco-free products, such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes. Among other things, by limit flavoring.
"The possibility of banning or otherwise regulating the flavorings in e-cigarettes should be analyzed" writes the government in its proposal.
Low proportion of smokers in Sweden
Sweden currently has the lowest smoking rate in Europe. Eurobarometer only 7% of the Swedish population smokes, which is low compared to the EU average of 23%. However, nicotine use is as high in Sweden as in the rest of the EU. This is because 20% of Swedes use snus and similar products. Two percent use e-cigarettes. According to Eurobarometer, 20% of Swedish smokers use snus or nicotine pouches as substitute when they quit smoking.
Want to reduce accessibility
But now the government wants to tighten measures to limit the availability of alternative nicotine products. The aim is to reduce the risk of young people starting to use nicotine. According to the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information, CAN around one percent of children aged 14 to 17 use e-cigarettes daily or almost daily. It is more common for young people who already smoke, testing e-cigarettes, according to CAN.
"For example, nicotine has negative effects on the heart and blood vessels. Therefore, a precautionary principle should be applied by regulating nicotine products as harmful products. Availability restriction measures are crucial to reduce the use of tobacco and nicotine products, to reduce health inequalities and to protect children and young people in particular" writes governments in its proposal.
M: "The main focus should be on smoking"
Moderate Member of Parliament David Josefsson believes that the government is on the wrong track. Both when it comes to e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products such as snus and nicotine pouches.
"A more nuanced approach would have been, as with alcohol, to work to reduce the medical harms of tobacco, that is, put the main focus on reducing smoking" writes David Josefsson in a motion to Parliament.
Need to distinguish between different nicotine products
According to David Josefsson a new ANDT strategy should distinguish between different types of nicotine products. Snus, e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes have very different effects on health, he says. According to the Gothenburg MP, the government's ANDT strategy seems to be more about ideology than public health.
"We need to focus on the harms of the respective products. It will be strange if the policy only aims to reduce tobacco and nicotine use. If four people quit snus but three of them start smoking, we have certainly reduced overall tobacco use, but in practice it would of course be a public health loss." says David Josefsson to Vejpkollen.
Cigarettes are the real problem
The ANDT bill will be debated in Parliament later this spring. David Josefsson suspects that the proposal will pass, but hopes for a broader debate in the future.
"Nicotine is by no means healthy. But just like alcohol, it is part of our culture and it can be used in more or less harmful ways. There is more openness about harm reduction among the parties today than before, at least in the opposition. The debate has become more mature. At the same time, there are strong forces pushing for various bans. But we need to focus on the real problem - smoking," says David Josefsson.
Awaiting review of rules
The government is now awaiting an investigation and review of tobacco-free nicotine products to be completed by March 31.
"The inquiry will analyze and consider whether the regulations on e-cigarettes and refill containers should be tightened and propose the necessary legislative amendments. Based on the committee's future proposals, the government will propose new rules aimed at reducing children's and young people's access to tobacco and nicotine products," the government writes.
What can we do to be heard? It's so frustrating when what saved your life (after 25 years of cigarettes) is dismantled with inaccuracies and lies. I stopped smoking raspberry flavored cigarettes, if guns tasted like tobacco I probably wouldn't have even bothered. The tobacco laws compare cigarettes and vapes in a way that makes no sense whatsoever, and the Swedish customs regulations regarding vape juice are downright ridiculous. So, what can we do? Almost feels like we need a national vape association to speak out full time against these ignorant fools, I would happily pay a membership fee for that!
Hi there! Many people feel like you! Karl-Åke Johansson and I are discussing this on his Youtube channel:
https://youtu.be/5_xA7zZ9dCM
Supporting Vejpkollen via Patreon helps of course. It gives me time to both organize and monitor developments more regularly.
https://www.patreon.com/vejpkollen?fan_landing=true
/Stefan, Editor-in-Chief Vejpkollen