August 2025 Newsletter

The August 2025 issue focuses on Sweden as a blueprint for a smoke-free future. The lead story explains that Sweden has used smoke-free workplaces, a national quit helpline, public information, and access to lower-risk nicotine products to reduce smoking. Since 2004, daily smoking in Sweden has fallen from more than 16 percent to around 5 percent.

The newsletter explains that Sweden supported the use of snus and other alternative nicotine products for adults who smoke. Snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes are presented as lower-risk alternatives that can help some adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes. The article also mentions the United Kingdom, where e-cigarette starter kits and behavioural support have been used as part of smoking cessation programs.

The issue also includes personal stories of tobacco users. Rasheed started using chalia and pan in childhood and later switched to gutka. He spends a large amount every month and now wants to reduce or quit because of health and financial concerns. Abdul Samad started smoking during student life and reduced his intake from more than 20 cigarettes a day to 2 or 3, but still needs proper help to quit completely.

Another story reports that ARI and its partners held awareness sessions in eight districts, five in Punjab and three in Sindh. These meetings involved communities, smokers, vapers, and tobacco users. Speakers discussed tobacco harms, benefits of quitting, nicotine withdrawal, cessation strategies, nicotine replacement therapy, medication, counselling, and tobacco harm reduction.

The newsletter also argues that smoking cessation should become central to Pakistan’s tobacco control strategy. It says Pakistan has focused on taxation, warnings, and restrictions, but smokers who want to quit still have little support. It calls for a national quitline, trained healthcare professionals, integration of cessation into primary healthcare, subsidized cessation medicines, and community involvement.

The issue also reports Punjab’s ban on smoking and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vapes in public parks. The final articles discuss concerns that flavour bans may reduce vaping but unintentionally slow progress against smoking, and Global Action’s support for FDA authorization of Juul’s tobacco and menthol flavoured e-cigarettes for adult smokers.

The main story presents Sweden as a strong example of how a country can reduce smoking through practical public-health policies, cessation support, and access to lower-risk nicotine alternatives. It explains that Sweden supported smoke-free workplaces, a national quit helpline, and products such as snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes, helping daily smoking fall to around 5 percent.