In a world-first scheme, smokers in England will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes. Over one million smokers will be targeted by this revolutionary programme designed to improve the health of the nation through a ‘stop to swap’ campaign. 

The government will provide 1 in 5 smokers in England with a vape starter kit as well as behavioural support to help them kick the habit. Local authorities will be invited to take part in the scheme, which aims to meet the government’s ambition of having a smoke-free country by 2030. Local schemes will be tailored to suit the needs of the area as well as allow local authorities to decide on which populations to prioritise. 

Health Minister Neil O’Brian announced the scheme as well as other incentives to stop people from smoking. Pregnant women will be offered financial incentives such as vouchers as well as behavioural support to help them quit, while the government will also consult on introducing mandatory cigarette pack inserts with positive information and encouragement to stop smoking. 

The Health Minister states, “Up to 2 out of 3 lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly.

We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme - the first of its kind in the world. We will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.

The new policies will deliver the government’s 3 aims to help more adults quit smoking, stop children and non-smokers from taking up vaping, and using vaping as a tool for established adult smokers to quit”

The government will also launch a crackdown on illegal vape sales in order to stop children and non-smokers from taking up the habit. A sharp increase in illicit vape sales has led to almost £ 3 million of new funding being provided to create a specialised ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ to enforce the rules on vaping and tackle illicit vapes and underage sales.

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