E-cigarette vaping in Sweden

E-cigarettes are legal in Sweden, where both online and vending machine sales are allowed, and products are available through general retail outlets. However, health claims are not allowed, and advertising is regulated. The excise duty applied to e-cigarettes ranges between 10% and 50% of that imposed on traditional cigarettes, reflecting a moderate taxation approach compared to traditional tobacco products. Sweden enforces several regulatory measures for e-cigarettes, including mandatory notifications for new products, requirements for childproof and tamperproof containers, and health warnings on packaging. The minimum legal age for purchasing e-cigarettes is 18 years. While there are no restrictions on flavour range, nicotine content is limited to 20 mg/mL or less, and tank sizes must not exceed 2 mL. The use of e-cigarettes is also subject to legal restrictions in public places.
Statistics show that approximately 83,500 people in Sweden were current e-cigarette users as of 2023. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was estimated to be 1% in 2023. This was slightly higher among females (2.2%) compared to males (1.9%) in 2022. As of 2023, daily use prevalence of vaping among adults was reported to be 0.6%. This prevalence was 0.4% among females and 0.6% among males in 2022. Public perception of e-cigarette harm in 2017 in Sweden showed that 65% of adults considered e-cigarettes harmful or more harmful than cigarettes, 14% viewed them as less harmful, and 21% were not sure to answer the question. Overall, Sweden’s e-cigarette environment is characterised by regulated access, moderate taxation, and relatively low prevalence, shaped by strong perceptions of health risk.