At the end of May, two important dates for global public health are observed within just 24 hours of each other. On 30 May, people around the world mark World Vape Day. On 31 May, World No Tobacco Day reminds us of the devastating toll caused by smoking related diseases.
These dates should not be seen as contradictory. They should be understood together, because both ultimately concern the same objective: reducing the enormous human suffering caused by smoking.
Every year, smoking kills more than 8 million people worldwide. Behind this staggering figure are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends and colleagues. There are families permanently changed by preventable illness, children growing up without parents, and millions of people living with diseases that could have been avoided. Public health discussions often become focused on statistics, prevalence rates, percentages and political disputes, but it is essential to remember that behind every number there is a person, a life and a story.
Most people who smoke do not want disease, disability or premature death. Many attempt to quit, often repeatedly, but struggle with years of addiction to combustible cigarettes. For these individuals, access to significantly safer alternatives can represent not only a public health strategy, but a second chance.
At QLS, we support the Swedish model because it has demonstrated measurable and unprecedented results. Sweden has now reached a historic daily smoking rate of just 3.7 percent, the lowest smoking prevalence recorded globally and well below the 5 percent threshold defined by the World Health Organization for a smoke-free society. This progress did not happen by accident. It was achieved through a pragmatic and evidence-based approach that combined traditional tobacco control policies with broad access to safer nicotine alternatives.
Among these alternatives, vaping products have played an important role for many adults seeking to move away from cigarettes. An overwhelming body of evidence shows that non-combustible alternatives are significantly less harmful than smoking and vaping is the most popular and effective means of smoking cessation. Ignoring this distinction risks keeping millions of people trapped in the most dangerous form of nicotine consumption: inhaling smoke from burning tobacco.
Public health should not be driven by fear, ideology or moral judgement. It should be guided by compassion, science and proportionality. Adults who smoke deserve honest information and access to options that will reduce their exposure to harm. Denying or restricting these alternatives without considering the real-world consequences will ultimately protect cigarettes more than it protects people.
As the world observes both World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day, we believe the focus must return to what truly matters: people. The conversation is not about products alone. It is about reducing suffering, preventing disease and helping millions of individuals live longer and healthier lives.
A world with fewer smokers is possible. Sweden has shown that. Now the question facing policymakers worldwide is whether they are willing to follow evidence and place human lives at the centre of the discussion.
Suely Castro
Founder
quitlikesweden.org