Fewer smokers, more snuffers in Norway

Norway’s smoking tobacco tax revenue last year, at NOK7.3 billion, was down by NOK170 million on that of 2011 and down by NOK750 million on that of 2009, according to an Esmerk Norwegian News story.

The decline was attributed to the fall that has occurred in the number of daily smokers, which, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, now accounts for 16 percent of the population, down from 21 percent in 2009.

But as the number of smokers has been falling, the number of smokeless tobacco users has been rising: from 6 percent in 2009 to 9 percent last year.