Post by BAT

BAT at the Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF): What if “Big Tobacco” is right? Despite decades of public health campaigns, around one billion people still smoke, and perceptions of tobacco harm reduction still trail the evidence. At BAT, we are clear: quitting combustible tobacco is the best thing any smoker can do. But for those who would otherwise continue, we believe in offering scientifically substantiated alternatives with reduced risk profiles. This is the essence of Tobacco Harm Reduction - and Sweden is living proof that it works. Sweden’s success didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of three key factors: awareness, availability, and progressive regulation. Swedish consumers are informed about alternatives. Products like snus and nicotine pouches are widely available. And crucially, regulation supported harm reduction outcomes by making cigarettes relatively more expensive, while allowing a range of flavours and nicotine strengths in smokeless products. Sweden’s smoking-related mortality is now among the lowest in the world. Twenty-five years ago, we were a traditional tobacco company. Cigarettes weren’t just our main product; they were our product. Today, we are a multi-category business. In Sweden, over 80% of our revenue now comes from our smokeless products. For years, the idea that a tobacco company could contribute meaningfully to public health policy was met with scepticism. Understandably so. But what if smoking - which many say is one of the world’s most entrenched health challenge - requires solutions from unexpected places? What if tobacco companies are uniquely positioned to help governments achieve a smoke-free world? This is the theme of the excellent line-up of BAT speakers and panellists at this year’s GTNF. Kingsley Wheaton Flora Okereke Valerie Briggs Solomon Nathan Jones Scott Brodie, MBA Jane Terry Christa Pelsers Nick Hodsman Carrie Wade, PhD Helena Digard Florian Schwalbach 🔗 Find out more: https://ow.ly/v3hz50X7Ec3 #TobaccoHarmReduction #PublicHealth #ScientificLeadership #GTNF2025  #NicotineScience #RegulatoryAffairs