Sweden is unusual in that it has a culture of using snus, a non-smoking tobacco preparation, and in fact it is unique among the EU member states in having it actually be legal (it's banned EU-wide, but Sweden got an opt-out in the accession negotiations). Neighbouring Norway also has legal snus but Norway isn't a full EU member.
This probably contributes to the low smoking rates, but it also means that Swedish politicians love acting like the tobacco industry is their best friend,[1][2] because it's in the national interest to protect this uniquely Swedish tradition or whatever. And recently, the so-called white snus (Swedicism; English name is nicotine pouches, only Sweden considers this a kind of snus) like ZYN is a way for the Swedish tobacco industry to get a new generation of young people hooked in nicotine, interestingly including ones outside Sweden.
[1] https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/regeringen-presenterade-t...
[2] https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/svenskar-i-eu-pratar-flit...
Yes, the whole thing is remarkably awful. Disgusting too.
We will not tolerate snus slander here! long live swedish match
Here's a free, fact-packed, breakdown on both smoking and "snus" in Sweden: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/the-public-health-agency...
Numbers are from 2024, but smoking was at 5.4%, and snus at 15.7%.