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Sweden close to becoming first 'smoke-free' country in Europe
FILE - Cigarette butts sit in an ashtray at a bus stop. (Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images) STOCKHOLM - Summer is in the air, cigarette smoke is not, in Sweden's outdoor bars and restaurants.As the World Health Organization marked "World No Tobacco Day" on Wednesday, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the Europe Union, is close to declaring itself "smoke-free" — defined as having fewer than 5% daily smokers in the population.Many experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of "snus," a smokeless tobacco product that is banned elsewhere in the EU but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes.Whatever the reason, the 5% milestone is now within reach.