A Non Smoking Generation, the Asthma and Allergy Association, Tobaksfakta, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and several other Swedish lobbying organisations want to ban all sales of nicotine. At least to people born after 2010.
The proposal is EU-wide and, together with similar organisations, they are now collecting signatures to take the issue to the European Commission.
Sedan New Zealand's decision In response to the call for a generational ban on the purchase of cigarettes, other groups around the world have begun to call for similar measures. This is also the case in Europe. The Swedish Non Smoking Generation, together with similar organisations in other EU countries, is now working towards a total ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2010. However, unlike New Zealand, they want the ban to apply to all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and snus.
"In our latest Novus survey, we see strong support for more tobacco-free environments and a completely tobacco-free generation. 64% of young respondents are in favour of setting an end date for all tobacco sales to the next generation." writes the Secretary General of Non Smoking Generations Helene Stjerna in a press release.
New Zealand and harm minimisation
As Vejpkollen previously reported, the New Zealand initiative has both praised and criticised by tobacco and addiction experts from around the world. The strategy in New Zealand is a combination of prohibition and harm minimisation, with low-nicotine cigarettes and e-cigarettes remaining on the market while cigarettes are phased out.
"We could not have done this if we did not recognise that there were acceptable alternatives to cigarettes. E-cigarettes have proven to be an effective tool for smoking cessation, so we are taking the next step and phasing out smoking" said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when New Zealand launched the idea in 2021.
Want to ban all nicotine products
However, the NSG says that all nicotine products should be banned for those born after 2010. The press release does not specify whether the ban should also apply to nicotine gum, sprays and other so-called nicotine medicines. With the goal of a nicotine-free generation by 2030, the organisations are aiming to collect one million signatures by 2025 in order to lobby the European Commission.
"We want to draw the attention of politicians to the harmfulness of tobacco and nicotine products, and the importance of putting the health of European citizens and our environment ahead of the profits of the tobacco industry," the NSG said in its press release.
The organisations also want a ban on the advertising of nicotine products. They also call for tobacco-free beaches, schools, restaurants, terraces, swimming pools, sporting events, parks and shows throughout the EU.
Financed by taxpayers' money
Non Smoking Generation, Tobaksfakta and Vi Som Inte Röker (VISIR) are organisations financed by government funds and donations. In 2023, the Swedish Public Health Agency distributed a total of SEK 6 million to these and similar organisations.
They are sick totalitarian fanatics with roots in the Third Reich. This just confirms it. How are they going to do it in practice? Will they have a Sturmabteilung that goes around patrolling streets and squares to check that people don't vape or have a cigarette under their lips? 🙂 Ironically, many countries are now moving towards legalising or decriminalising cannabis. But the Swedish antinicotine fanatics are probably strongly against that.