Norwaycomes across as one magical country situated in the north of Europe alongside Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Residents as well as short term visitors ever have enough of the magnificent attractions consisting of ice covered mountains for skiing, scenicroads, waterside cities and above all bubbly city life.

Norway also has traces of the Viking age and much more history tucked in almost every part but largely preserved in museums. Aside from the great experiences that Norway has to offer, one also has to keep it top of mind that it’s a very cold country, especially when winter comes. It’s under such extremely old temperatures that people find it cozy to puff their preferred cigarette brands whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

In Norway, a keen observer from conservative societies first get a shock of their life. It may not be an ordinary scene to see women, teenagers and men enjoying their cigarettes. Statistics show that younger Norweigians steer away from smoking habits but a wooping 12.9% still smoke on a daily basis.

The statistics shows that people can always access and buy whatever cigarettes of choice from stores around. Others who find it had to cope with the strict smoking regulations that banned it on public space and indoors opt for the Swedish snus as an alternative. 

Cigarette brands on shelves in Norway

As expected and with the history fo smoking being always vobrant in Norway, smokers can always select from a lomg list. With age restrictions, smokers can buy cigarettes from any store around; be it in Oslo, Bergen or any other city.

• Dunhill
• Lucky Strike
• Prince
• Shiro
• Kapten
• Marlboro
• L&M
• Petterøes
• Blue Maste

Smoking deeply tucked in the history of Norwegians 

Opinions remain divided on the comparatively high cases of smokers in Norway. Perhaps it has something to do with the winter cold or a perpetuation across generations of passive smokers. But whatever it may be is besides the point. The fact is that like other Scandinavians, people living in Norway find much joy and cheerfulness in stimulating their bodies.

As a newcomer in Norway, chances that your friends, workmates, schoolmates or acquaintances smoke remains very high. The percentage of smokers in Norway has gone down but still, they remain high in absolute numbers. No wonder non-smoking expats may end up smoking too. 

The arriving expatriates already addicted to smoking or engage in social smoking may find comfort in the many brands on offer. There’s no discrimination against smokers too which basically takes away the stigma from it. But, then this should also ring alarm bells in the minds of anyone who already knows the critical health effects. 

Something strange about smoking, drinking and clubbing in Norway

If anyone ever mentioned to you that Norway is a free country then that’s spot on. The best places to experience people enjoying their freedom is in drinking, smoking and partying. Provided you don’t flaunt established social rules concerning use of liquor and cigarettes, there’s no one who will bother you. 

The greatest surprise that a newcomer will struggle to countenance is that religious leaders too freely drink and smoke in Norway. In case you come from societies where the clergy define and emphasize social behavior to you and that they detest smoking, it will definitely be a rough ride trying to reconcile with the reality. 

As an expat, you will from time to time see people either drinking or smoking. It may hit you differently, with a lot of puzzlement, when you come from a place where only the catholic priests are allowed to take a sip of wine. 

How smoking has evolved in Norway to date

During the 19th century, Norwegians used pipe smoking and dry snuff. The rolled cigarettes did not capture the attention of the Norwegians until the 20th century, when they could be easily purchased. In the later part of the 20th century, Norway’s government introduced laws and restrictions changes that have caused changes in smoking in the country until today.

Smoking pervasiveness

For many years, the use of tobacco has been highly escalating in Norway. In the early 1970s, 51% of men and 32% of women between 16 and 74 years smoked on a daily basis. In the year 2020, there was practically much difference in smokers between women and men as it was 13% for the daily users.  

Seemingly, there was a change in smoking pervasiveness in 1998. Since that time, smoking prevalence has reduced among women and men. In 2020, around 1% of the young Norwegians between 16 and 24 were recorded to be constant smokers, with almost no variation between women and men.

The pervasiveness of young circadian smokers went down from 12-1% in the past years. Most of the smokers in Norway are mainly immigrants from Pakistan, Vietnam, Iran and Turkey compared to other ethnic Norwegians. 

It has been noted that low education is one of the main factors contributing to smoking pervasiveness in Norway. The variation in smoking pervasiveness between low-educated Norwegians and well-educated people shows the significance of contemplating social inequality.

Some of the causes of intractable smoking in Norway

• The extreme cold weather
• Peer pressure
• Parental Influence
• Stress factors
• Genetic Factors

Changes in the smoking policies in Norway to cut down the lifestyle behavior

As much as Norway has notorious smokers, there have been laws enacted to limit smokers, particularly in public places. In 1975, the Tobacco Act was initiated in Norway to enhance forward policies on cigarette branding. During this time, there was also an advertising prohibition and limitation on those purchasing cigarettes below 16 years. 

The Tobacco Act became severe for the people who used to puff cigarettes in 1996. The highlight of this new law was its limiting of the age limit for purchasing was increased to 18 years. 

Nowegians have had to face a decade long attempt by the euthroitues to restirct smoking. This restruction approach stopped the puffing in public areas, cafes or restaurants, pubs, and bars. It brought with it a ban on the marketing of smoking products. 

Until the beginning of the 21st century in Norway, smoking had been a pervasive vision. But the adjustments in the law and restrictions therein created a new atmospher. The Norwegian smokers had to watch elsewhere for their tobacco predicament. 

The tax imposed on tobacco

Tobacco smokers have no choice but to pay the heavy taxation imposed by the Norwegian government on all tobacco products. The importers also get taxed highly to produce and import into the country. Some of the taxable products are cigarettes, cigars, tubes, cigarette papers, snus and all tobacco in consumer packaging. You will be taxed based on the tax product as they vary in rates.

Why it is difficult to quit smoking

Smoking is common in Norway due to the earlier causes mentioned above, such as the extreme cold weather in Norway, peer pressure, parental influence, stress factors and genetic factors. However, some of the things that make most the Norwegians and other immigrants to be engaged in the causes of smoking are the following:

• Presence of nicotine in the cigarettes
• Social situations 
• Mental triggers