Finland’s Flavour Ban
Finland’s flavour ban on nicotine pouches risks pushing smokers back to cigarettes, according to the leading international health experts at Smoke Free Sweden
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by Dave Cross
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Finland’s plan to ban flavours in nicotine pouches risks driving smokers back to cigarettes, leading international health experts have warned. Smoke Free Sweden believes that the country ought to be looking at the success tobacco harm reduction story in Sweden rather than pushing restrictive policies.
Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, said: “With a smoking rate of 15% - almost three times higher than Sweden’s 5.3% - Finland should be looking to Sweden’s successful harm reduction strategies rather than implementing prohibitive measures.
“Banning flavours directly contradicts overwhelming scientific evidence that shows flavoured safer alternatives are a vital tool for smoking cessation.”
Dr. Human added: “Sweden has led the way in eradicating smoking by embracing innovative smoke-free nicotine products and making them acceptable, accessible and affordable to adult smokers. Finland’s decision undermines this proven approach and risks pushing smokers back to deadly cigarettes.”
The flavour ban will come into effect on March 20, if approved by the Finnish parliament.
Smoke Free Sweden says research demonstrates that access to reduced-risk nicotine products, particularly those with appealing flavours, plays a critical role in encouraging adult smokers to transition away from combustible cigarettes.
The Swedish experience, where flavoured oral nicotine products have been integral to achieving Europe’s lowest smoking rate, is a testament to this strategy’s success.
Dr. Human concluded: “Rather than limiting access to safer alternatives, policymakers should follow Sweden’s evidence-based approach: promoting the use of safer nicotine products instead of imposing restrictive policies that inadvertently sustain cigarette consumption.
“Smoke Free Sweden calls on Finnish authorities to reconsider this harmful regulation and align their policies with the scientific consensus on tobacco harm reduction. Europe’s path to a smoke-free future must be based on pragmatism, not prohibition.”
Smoke Free Sweden is a movement which encourages other countries to follow the Swedish model when it comes to Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden’s smoke free success can be attributed to its open attitude towards regulated alternative nicotine products.
For more information on Sweden’s successful approach to becoming a smoke free nation, visit Smoke Free Sweden’s website.
Photo Credit:
IMages from Smoke Free Sweden
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
