Smokers urged to ditch cigarettes for vapes in new world-first scheme

The government have launched a pioneering ‘swap to stop’ scheme designed to cut smoking rates across the UK despite the recent concerns that have risen over e-cigarettes.

Under the new world-first national scheme, which was launched yesterday, one million smokers will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes in a bid to improve the health of the country and slash smoking rates.

Almost one in five of all smokers in England – according to data from the Office of National Statistics, 6.6 million people were smoking in England in 2021 – will be given a free vape starter kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit.

Alongside this, local authorities are also set to be invited to take part in the scheme later this year and each will design a programme that best suits its needs, including deciding which population to prioritise. All of these measures have been announced to help the government meet its target of being smokefree by 2030.

However, at the beginning of this year, a bill was proposed to parliament to prohibit the sale of disposable e-cigarettes and vapes to people under the age of 18. Known as the ‘Disposable Electronic Cigarettes (Prohibition of Sale) Bill’, the law is now undergoing its second reading in the House of Commons.

Against this backdrop, distributing free vapes to adults has cast concerns about the message this presents to children who have previously tried to get their hands on a vape. Additionally, as the health risks associated with e-cigarettes have not yet been fully identified people are worried about using the devices.

Although the government have said that they are still cracking down on trying to stop young people from using vapes as they have included it within their three polices that are designed to help the nation ditch smoking.

In 2021 NHS figures displayed that 9% of 11 to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes which was an increase from 6% in 2018. In response to this, Health Minister, Neil O’Brien is launching a call for evidence on youth vaping to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products – and explore where the government can go further.

Commenting on the launch of the new scheme, Minister O’Brien said: ‘Up to two out of three 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.’

In a speech that was also held yesterday, Minister O’Brien also announced that following the success of local schemes, pregnant women will be offered financial incentives to help them stop smoking. This will involve offering vouchers, alongside behavioural support, to all pregnant women who smoke by the end of next year.

Image: Chiara Summer and Quinten de Graaf