Fight against tobacco intensifies in Finland

Finland is seeking to tighten smoking regulations in the coming years. On Monday, April 26, a proposed law was unveiled, in line with Finland's goal of virtually eliminating tobacco and nicotine consumption by 2030.[1].

According to the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the bill, if passed, is expected to strengthen the law on smoking in outdoor areas. New smoke-free areas are expected to be established, such as bus stops, public beaches, children's playgrounds, and certain types of outdoor terraces. These provisions could come into force in early 2022, with a two-year implementation period. Furthermore, the bill aims to introduce plain packaging by 2023.[2].

Finland, a pioneer in the fight against smoking

The proposal is in line with the ambitious public health policies pursued in Finland for more than forty years. The Scandinavian country has been at the forefront of its smoking regulations.[3] : As early as 1978, advertising for tobacco products was banned, while the ban on smoking in the workplace dates back to 1995. Subsequently, other complementary measures were put in place, such as the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, or the increase in the cost of the license to own a tobacco shop in order to discourage the establishment of new outlets. At the same time, Finland implemented regular tax increases on tobacco products, while intensifying the policy of support for quitting. All of these measures have led to a significant decline in smoking prevalence: in the early 2000s, almost a quarter of Finns were regular smokers, compared to 11% in 2019.

Effective regulation of other tobacco and nicotine products

The success of public health policies in Finland goes beyond the simple issue of combustible tobacco use. Unlike in Sweden and Norway, snus is not legal for sale in Finland. Moreover, this significant decline in smoking has not been offset by an increase in e-cigarette use, which remains at a particularly low level. According to the World Health Organization, in 2018, only 11% of Finns reported being regular users.[4]This situation is explained by the implementation of pioneering regulations, such as the ban on sales to minors, the ban on advertising, displays or distance selling, import restrictions, bans on consuming these products in places where smoking is prohibited, or finally the ban on flavors: in Finland, only tobacco flavor is authorized.