Development in Finland

According to estimates by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, deaths, disability pensions and sick leaves related to smoking as well as smoking breaks cause costs of 535,8–829,5 million euros, depending on the calculation method. Economic burden caused by smoking to society has been estimated to be about 1.3 billion euros every year.

The objective of the Tobacco Act is to end the use of tobacco and other nicotine products by 2030.

Finland is the only country in the world to set up this kind of aim in legislation.  The vision of tobacco-free Finland is feasible, as Finns hold a smoke-free living environment in high regard.

In 2018, the national working group to develop tobacco and nicotine policy, published its proposals how to achieve the Finnish endgame aim. In its report, the working group emphasizes that the implementation of the proposals is only an intermediate step in ending the use of tobacco and other nicotine products in Finland.  The further actions must be carried out every few years.

Every government until 2030 must investigate and evaluate how to achieve the endgame objective and propose the necessary further actions. The implementation of the actions must be included in every government program.

Strategies and barriers of Finland’s endgame

The study  “Strategies and barriers to achieving the goal of Finland’s tobacco endgame”  by David S Timberlake, Ulla Laitinen, Jaana M Kinnunen, and Arja H Rimpelä explored stakeholders’ perceptions about the strengths, barriers, solutions and rationale for Finland’s comprehensive but conventional strategy to achieve its nicotine-free goal. Study was published in Tobacco Control in May 2019.

Read the study here.