[TazeTSchnitzel]

Sweden is unusual in that it has a culture of using snus, a non-smoking tobacco preparation, and in fact it is unique among the EU member states in having it actually be legal (it's banned EU-wide, but Sweden got an opt-out in the accession negotiations). Neighbouring Norway also has legal snus but Norway isn't a full EU member.

This probably contributes to the low smoking rates, but it also means that Swedish politicians love acting like the tobacco industry is their best friend,[1][2] because it's in the national interest to protect this uniquely Swedish tradition or whatever. And recently, the so-called white snus (Swedicism; English name is nicotine pouches, only Sweden considers this a kind of snus) like ZYN is a way for the Swedish tobacco industry to get a new generation of young people hooked in nicotine, interestingly including ones outside Sweden.

[1] https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/regeringen-presenterade-t...

[2] https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/svenskar-i-eu-pratar-flit...

[EmilStenstrom]

Here's a free, fact-packed, breakdown on both smoking and "snus" in Sweden: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/the-public-health-agency...

Numbers are from 2024, but smoking was at 5.4%, and snus at 15.7%.

[TazeTSchnitzel]

> The increase [in use of snus] is particularly evident among women aged 16–29 years, where the proportion of daily snus users has risen from 3 percent in 2018 to 18 percent in 2024.

Geez that's a little alarming. Looks like that's basically all down to nicotine pouches too.

[impossiblefork]

Yes, the whole thing is remarkably awful. Disgusting too.

[calvinmorrison]

We will not tolerate snus slander here! long live swedish match

[lawn]

As I Swede snus can suck it.

[Y-bar]

I will openly hate on Swedish snusers until they stop littering their pouches and cakes every-damn-where. Some of those guys even throw it onto indoor ceilings. It’s disgusting.

[MonitorBird]

In korea people will chug through americanos like its water and dump the cups on the streets because there are no trash cans. If they had nic pouches there there is a good chance theyd clog the sewer system.

Id still take nic pouches and plastic cups over cig smoking losers anyday of the week