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February 11, 2012
'Smokers cost Swedish councils billions': report
Published: 25 Aug 09 11:31 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/21672/20090825/
Smokers are costing Swedish municipalities 2.6 billion kronor ($367 million) per annum in the form of breaks and sickness absences, a new report from the Swedish Public Health Institute (Statens Folkhälsoinstitut) shows.
- Woman affirmed right to smoke in own garden (7 Aug 09)
- Swedes back al fresco smoking ban (1 Jun 09)
- Smokers face higher insurance costs (30 May 09)
"We know that three out of four smokers want to quit and most municipalities that introduce bans during working hours also offer help. In that way the workplace supports those wanting to stop. We can now see that a smoke-free work environment provides financial benefits to councils," Cecilia Birgersson at the institute said in a press release on Tuesday.
A smoke-free workplace means in practice that smoking is banned during paid working hours, including breaks. Lunch hour is not considered to be part of regular working hours.
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL), along with union groups, supports the introduction of smoking bans. A survey conducted by SKL earlier in 2009 showed that 64 of Sweden's 290 local municipalities had decided to introduce work time smoking bans.
The institute has calculated the cost of smoking in terms of "smoking hours" at an average 282 kronor, based on a national average hourly wage.
The total cost is a multiple of the time taken to smoke a cigarette by the number of cigarettes per day (for the normal smoker) and the time to go to and from a designated smoking area - a total of 30 minutes per day per smoker. The cost per smoker is thus 31,300 kronor per annum.
Smokers typically claim an additional eight sick days in comparison with a non-smoker and this costs an additional 13,700 kronor per annum per smoker, bringing the total cost per smoker to 45,000 kronor, according to the institute's calculations.
External link: On Swedish Business - Smoking bans become a money issue »
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Now, this will draw a lot of fire from many people, but I hope the next step for the Swedish Public Health Institute will be to research the damaging effects of Alcohol on the nation-wide population and society in general. It's truly a taboo subject in Sweden to discuss alchol in negative terms, especially mentioning a ban. There's no reason to go that far, but some healthy statistics on the subject wouldn't hurt to see.
I am allergic to Tabacco, can barely breath when people smoke close to me. Have develop a strong problem specially when I go to bed.
Nobody cares about it. After telling them about my allergy people just tell me ok, but then let me know if it bothers you... while they hold their cigarette.
Still they have rights I don't have!
OMG. I am getting tired of this country.
Then....Alchohol, kills way, way, way, many more people than smoking does and there are actual facts from hospital/police/goverment records that back this up. What is the total cost spent on people staying home from work caused by hang-overs...way, way, way, more than people who smoke. What is the cost of medical care, policing the drunk, rehab programs and i can go on.....way, way, way, more than smoking will EVER cost.
Come on Cecilia Birgersson, get your prioritise straighted out. One good point in the whole shamble, Smoking during work hours (excluding lunch hour) is wrong and should be stopped.
As for smoking - stupid. What else can you say.
With smoke you often have NO choice and suffer from OPs lack of consideration.
If ppl.had more interest in their jobs and earning a crust, they wouldnt be so obsessed with smoking away so much time and money.
Now drinking on the other hand is a world wide tradition. Every culture since the Stone Age has brewed, distilled and fermented alcohol in some form or another. Much tougher to get rid of. Remember the 18th Amendment of the US Constitution passed in 1919 which attempted to legislate/eliminate alcohol consumption. It was a dismal failure; all it did was make Joseph Kennedy (the father of the late President John F. Kennedy) rich, Al Capone infamous and rich, and criminals out of millions of ordinary Americans who just wanted to enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer afternoon.
You can't stop drinking. Never been successful anywhere.
Nine in ten of these can be squarely blamed on the pernicious effects of tobacco smoking - and unfortunately the majority of cases cannot be cured." BBC
He had lit up a ciggie practically in my face, so I protested. He said he couldn't see the harm and I should "get over" myself, "it's a party!"
So I politely pointed out that, since the by-product of his habit (i.e. smoke exhalation and direct smoke from the burning cancer stick in his fingers) was affecting me without bothering his conscience, then I had the right to equal redress. This stumped him (maybe tobacco & nicotine kills brain cells as well as lung ones).
"Well, my habit is drinking, the natural by-product of which is urine. Therefore if you're allowed to exhale smoke on me, I should be allowed to p*ss on you!"
Smoking is stupid - period. Just as (excessive) drinking is stupid. I loved it when the smoking ban took effect in pubs etc............I think it was the cartoonist Matt in the Daily Torygraph who expressed it best - picture a guy coming home late and the wife looks annoyed - "I can tell you've been to the pub!" she accuses. "I can't smell the smoke!"
With the increasing over population of the planet, smoking should be promoted and encouraged. Every little bit helps.