SVT has asked three of the major pharmacy chains, Apoteket AB, Kronan's pharmacy and Apoteket Hjarta, how their sales of nicotine drugs have changed since the smoking ban was introduced.

The pharmacy heart owned by the ICA group does not want to answer how their sales have gone. But both Apoteket AB and Kronan's pharmacies see an increase of 6.5 and 7 per cent in July, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

- We believe this new law has been recorded, says Magnus Frisk, informant at Apoteket AB.

Regional differences

SVT has previously reported that Södertälje tops the list among the county's municipalities where most infants are exposed to passive smoking in the home.

The pharmacies cannot report on the sales of cigarette substitutes in Södertälje, but Kronan's sales in Stockholm County increased by 6 percent in July, compared with July 2018. Most of their sales have increased in Uppsala County, by 67 percent compared with last month. year.

More help line calls

Even the Quit Smoking line has noticed a difference in the number of calls. The increase is partly due to the fact that the service is now offered in Arabic, but even if the increase linked to the Arabic calls is calculated, it can be noted that the service received 100 more calls in July this year compared to July last year, from 312 to 412 calls.

- We feel that many callers comment on the ban and say that it is equally good to take the opportunity to quit now that smoking in outdoor seating is prohibited. That it has received a lot of media attention can also act as an extra pressure, says Amanda Wedenborn, consultant on the Stop Smoking line.

* Hear Joszef Högye who was at a pharmacy in Södertälje to buy nicotine drugs in the clip above. He will become smoke-free - after 50 years.