Development of the law:

All public places and workplaces in Sweden, including restaurants, bars, cafés and nightclubs, became smokefree on June 1, 2005.

The 2005 smoking ban was the culmination of fifty years of campaigning by a number of advocacy groups, including the Swedish Network for Tobacco Prevention (SNTP) and the National Public Health Committee.

The Swedish government initially favoured a voluntary agreement on smokefree environments, but concluded in 2003 that legislation was needed.

Prior to the decision, two information campaigns were coordinated by the SNTP – one aimed at decision-makers in the government and the restaurant association, the other aimed at the general public. Media releases were issued by the National Institute of Public Health during the months before implementation. Municipal and county authorities, NGOs and the National Quitline issued numerous other press releases.

Compliance with the law has been high. Fewer than 2% of facilities have set up smoking rooms, and these have been mainly in nightclubs, casinos and bingo halls.

Useful links:

Government offices of Sweden - Information on smokefree restaurants, pubs and cafés