What a masterclass in modern spin:
1: Take a problem, in this case tobacco consumption
2: Isolate a part of it, ideally a the part that is most visible and/or easiest to go after. As others have mentioned, Sweden has a large culture of non-smoked tobacco consumption
3: Define an easily achieved win condition, brand it as complete success. In this case "smoke-free" means under 1 in 20 Swedes smoke
4: Get your buddies in the press to publish breathless articles on your 'Incredible' milestone
5 (ideally optional): If anyone ever tries to hold you accountable, double down.
To be entirely fair, a whole country switching from smoking to safer oral nicotine is a massive health win. The bad things in cigarettes are mostly not nicotine.
To be clear they commonly use snus which is tobacco product, not just nicotine pouch. It shares many of the health issues associated with smoking tobacco and also has it's own ones (e.g. related to gum health).
I don’t fear second hand gum issues
Next one! ....Norwegians and the global climate benefits of Electric cars :-))
> If anyone ever tries to hold you accountable, double down.
Basically the entire policy of the current US administration summed up in a sentence lol
You only think that because you don't consume news from other nations.
Really? Just 3.
I didn't say it was the only one, it's probably the worst offender though