Government to offer a million vape ‘starter kits’ in bid to make Britain smoke-free

One million smokers will be offered vape 'starter kits' in a world-first policy to make England smoke-free.

Despite a torrent of evidence about the health risks of vaping, the free kits will be offered to almost one in five smokers in England.

He National Health Service has long advised that vaping can help smokers quit, but has never given people the equipment to start doing it.

Vaping devices usually cost around £20 to £30, plus more for replacement cartridges. Critics say vaping isn't particularly effective in helping people give up.

But it is the focus of a new crackdown, in which pregnant women will be offered up to £400 in quit-smoking vouchers, and a consultation will be launched on introducing mandatory quit-smoking advice on cigarette packs.

The Government is striving to meet its goal of being smoke-free by 2030, which means reducing smoking rates to 5 percent or less.

Health Minister Neil O'Brien, who will launch the schemes today, is expected to say: 'Up to two in three lifetime smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on the market that will kill you if used correctly.

'We will offer a million smokers new help to quit smoking. We will be funding a new national 'swap to stop' scheme, the first of its kind in the world.'

But Professor Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: "Given the pressure the NHS is facing, one wonders whether this is a good use of resources given that a substantial increase in tobacco tax would be more effective. ".

'E-cigarettes have only been shown to help people quit smoking if they're part of a time-limited, supervised behavioral support package, and even then they're not particularly good.

"We need to focus on plain packaging, a ban on appealing flavors of e-liquids, and an end to advertising for vaping products."

The starter kits will offer smokers a choice of products, strengths and flavors, and receive tobacco cessation support at the same time.

It is understood that they can be requested at community health centers or smoking cessation services.

It is believed that more than three million people in England vape and experts agree that the devices are safer than smoking, as they contain a liquid form of nicotine that is heated into a vapor to inhale, thus avoiding tobacco smoke. harmful.

Supporters of vaping point to UK research that estimates that in 2017, e-cigarettes helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to quit.

But the World Health Federation cautioned that there are many studies casting doubt on the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Officials estimate the stop to swap scheme will cost around £45m over two years.

Officials say 9 per cent of women smoke during pregnancy in England and hope it will all stop by the end of the year with a financial incentive and behavioral support.

Deborah Arnott, executive director of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, said: "Vaporizers increase the chances of smokers to quit successfully, as do coupons for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are not enough". '

The government is also set to announce a £3m 'illicit vape enforcement squad' to crack down on underage and illicit sales.

A popular vape was pulled from UK stores after the Mail revealed it was 50 per cent over the legal nicotine limit.

Elf Bar withdrew its 600 product, which accounted for two-thirds of disposable vapes bought in the UK, after the healthcare watchdog intervened.