Last year, the Public Health Agency distributed SEK 12 million to the county administrative boards. The state development funds were intended to improve local supervision in the tobacco and alcohol areas. “The funds have contributed in a positive direction, but the efforts vary across the country,” the Public Health Agency writes in its report on how the money has been used.

County administrative boards and municipalities in metropolitan areas have higher staffing levels and have carried out more activities within tobacco and alcohol supervision. In smaller counties and in rural areas, the efforts are smaller. The Public Health Agency “would like to draw particular attention” to the fact that some county administrative boards need higher staffing levels and adequate expertise in order to be able to develop supervision in the right direction. Tobacco supervision in particular needs to be developed further, the Public Health Agency believes.

All county administrative boards applied for and were granted funds for last year's activities. The county administrative boards have used the funds for activities in the areas that were prioritized in the call: smoke-free schoolyards, responsible alcohol serving and development of tobacco supervision. 56 percent of the granted funds were used for personnel costs and 20 percent were used for activities with the intention of integrating the industry's self-control into supervision. The remainder includes costs for administration.