The snuff-sniffing Swede has become a symbol for alternative nicotine products around the world. At least in harm reduction circles - a growing global movement that attracts everyone from doctors and researchers to active consumers and politicians. Lidingö resident Bengt Wiberg is the snuffer who takes on the role of both advocate and consumer when the movement gathers annually in Warsaw for the Global Forum on Nicotine.
Vejpkollen reports from Global Forum on Nicotine 2023.
Warsaw. Poland. June 2023: The Global Forum on Nicotine is the world's largest conference on nicotine and harm reduction for smokers. Over four busy days, scientists, activists, entrepreneurs, journalists, officials and policy makers will meet to discuss smoking, tobacco, nicotine, research and innovations in harm reduction.
Researchers from around the world
Bengt Wiberg, snus user, innovator and keen advocate of the Nordic version of harm reduction, has been attending the conference for many years. Not least as a speaker and part of panels dealing with snus and nicotine pouches. In many contexts, he has taken on the role of "the face of snus" and become the one who has to explain to the world why Swedes smoke less and use snus instead.
"The Global Forum on Nicotine is an extremely important conference. It brings together the world's leading harm reduction experts under one roof for a few days. There are consumers, doctors, researchers and industry people; it's very high-level. Compared to other conferences on tobacco and nicotine, the doors are often closed to those with critical views on the issue. That is not the case here. Everyone is welcome and the discussion is open" says Bengt Wiberg, when we meet in the lobby outside the conference.
E-cigarettes and snus
The theme of this year's conference is the future of nicotine use and lessons from history. The debate on harm reduction for smokers has been going on for almost 20 years, as have efforts to make smoke-free nicotine alternatives accepted around the world. Much of the debate has been about e-cigarettes. Not surprising, given that this product has been the number one alternative for smokers from an international perspective. But according to Bengt Wiberg, a Swedish snus user who also uses e-cigarettes from time to time, the issue of Swedish snus has not always received the attention it deserves. But that is changing, he says. Especially in recent years, since interest in Sweden's low smoking rate has come into focus.
"When I started getting actively involved in 2018, few people talked about snus and nicotine pouches in the harm reduction movement - it was all about vejpning. Now it is almost always mentioned alongside e-cigarettes. That's very positive," says Bengt Wiberg.
Bad arguments triggered activism
His involvement in snus and harm reduction started five years ago. It was when the EU decided to continue banning the sale of snus in all EU countries, except Sweden. Swedish Match had challenged the ban in the European Court of Justice and Bengt Wiberg was sitting in the audience.
"I had never been an activist in my life. But suddenly I found myself in a room of judges in wigs and black coats deciding on the effect of snus on public health in Sweden. The lawyers for the anti-nicotine activists came up with some really bad arguments - like Swedish men smoke less because of "parental leave" or that they "have a healthier lifestyle than other European men" says Bengt Wiberg.
"Snus is about politics - not health"
He laughs a little and shakes his head.
"It was absurd to hear. Snus, which a lot of Swedish men, including myself, use to stay smoke-free, apparently had nothing to do with 'quitting smoking'. 100,000 pages of scientific research on how we use snus was totally ignored. It came from Swedish Match and was therefore not considered credible. Snus would continue to be banned, while cigarettes would be allowed. If anything, it was even more absurd. That's when I realized that the issue of snus is all about politics, and not at all about health or science."
Grassroots activism
Bengt Wiberg now launched the EU for snus network. Twitter and Facebook proved to be the most successful platforms and in a short time he managed to attract thousands of members from almost 100 countries around the world. It was grassroots activism that attracted doctors, scientists and other activists to take a closer look at snus as a phenomenon.
"I discovered that there was a huge educational need around snus and nicotine pouches. It still applies. The outside world doesn't know what this stuff really is, and many people probably think it's just something we northerners put under our lips. Knowledge about snus production, the nicotine itself and how we use the products arouses a lot of interest"
Almost smoke-free in Sweden
According to the WHO, a country is considered smoke-free when less than 5% of the population smokes. In Sweden, the proportion of daily smokers is 5.8% in the latest surveys.
"Among Swedish men it is even lower. And this is of course due to snus, as any normal person can understand. We see a similar trend in Norway, where the proportion of smokers is falling as more people use snus. This is also visible among women, who like nicotine portions more than regular snus," says Bengt Wiberg.
A smorgasbord
A recurring topic at the Global Forum on Nicotine is the 'Swedish model' for nicotine. What is driving down smoking in Sweden? According to Bengt Wiberg, it's not quite simple, but one important factor is the availability of many different nicotine products.
"Even though we have a low tax on cigarettes, relative to the average income, we often choose other nicotine products. It's like a smorgasbord in the shops and it's that availability that drives this, sometimes in combination with various smoking bans and regulations"
Earning more from smoke-free products
He also points out that convenience stores and gas stations can actually make more money selling smoke-free products than selling cigarettes. Even if they don't know it themselves, all the time.
"Retailers do have a financial interest in converting smokers to snus or e-cigarettes. Today, for example, the profit margins on nicotine pouches are significantly better than for cigarettes. The question is, do all shop owners know this? If not, it is important to actually shed more light on it. If you manage to convert 10 smokers a week from smoking to vejpning or snus, you are not only making a contribution to public health - you are also making a better profit," says Bengt Wiberg.
Created new snuff bag
In addition to his unpaid activism, Bengt Wiberg also runs the company Sting Free, which produces nicotine pouches in a modified pouch that can reduce the impact of snus on the gums. Something he is proud of.
"It was actually a desperate measure from the start. My dentist complained about an irritation I had in my gums. He said I had to give up snuff. "No way" I thought. When I got home, I did some thinking and started experimenting. Would there be any way to reduce the irritation from the snuff bag? In the end, I tried putting a thin compress on one side of the bag. I did this until my next appointment with the doctor. The irritation was gone and he was very pleased," Bengt jokes.
This experience eventually led to a new type of snus bag, after countless market studies, medical consultations and investments. He is now launching it in shops selling other snus.
"But that's how it started. After a visit to the dentist. I think it's important that snus is open to everyone, even those who find it irritating under the lip. If it gets in the way of someone quitting smoking, then hopefully Sting Free can do a lot of good" Says Bengt Wiberg, snus smoker, entrepreneur and activist, before we part in the crowd at the Global Forum on Nicotine.
