Declining smoking in Sweden: is Swedish Match getting the credit for Swedish tobacco control's efforts?

Abstract

Bates et al² concluded snus played a “positive public health role” but did not weigh all available evidence nor critically appraise the methodologies, funding sources, or interpretations of the studies they included. Their “Evidence from Sweden” section included only an unpublished survey with unknown methodology,³ a newspaper article,⁴ and a study from northern Sweden.⁵ Foulds et al¹ concluded that snus had “...a direct effect on the changes in male smoking and health” with little additional evidence. However, both papers ignored published studies and selectively reported findings. A consideration of all the available evidence suggests snus played, at best, a minor role in reducing smoking in Sweden.