Vaping: UK Government's Plan to Reduce Smoking Rates in England with Free E-Cigarettes

Matthew Ma

• 5 min read
Vaping: UK Government's Plan to Reduce Smoking Rates in England with Free E-Cigarettes

In an effort to reduce the number of smokers in England, the government has announced plans to distribute one million free vaping starter kits to current smokers. Pregnant women will also be given up to £400 to help them quit smoking. The move is part of a package of measures designed to encourage people to quit smoking and to ultimately reduce smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030.

The free vaping starter kits will be given to almost one in five smokers in England and will be accompanied by behavioral support. The policy, which has been dubbed "swap to stop," is the first of its kind in the world, according to Health Minister Neil O'Brien.

"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," said Mr. O'Brien. He added that policies would focus on "helping people to quit" rather than imposing bans.

While the government's plan to give away free vaping starter kits has been welcomed by some, including Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, others have warned that swapping cigarettes for vapes is "nowhere near sufficient" in tackling addiction. Sarah MacFadyen, from the charity Asthma and Lung UK, said that tackling addiction was more complex than just swapping cigarettes for vapes.

In addition to giving away free vaping starter kits, the government is also launching a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales. The government wants to encourage adult smokers to switch to vapes, but there are concerns about the rising popularity of the products among children. NHS figures from last year revealed that 9% of secondary school pupils use a vape regularly or occasionally, including almost one in five 15-year-olds.

The government has also committed to getting smoking rates in England below 5% by 2030. However, a review of the 2030 target published last year warned that it will be missed by at least seven years without further action. The author of the review, Dr. Javed Khan, called for a range of new measures, including a ban on smoking at outdoor spaces such as beaches and beer gardens.

While vaping is being promoted as an alternative to smoking, it is not without its risks. E-cigarettes are not a "silver bullet" or "totally risk-free," according to the same report that recommended promoting vaping as an alternative to tobacco. This report also recommended a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces and further measures to discourage people from smoking.

Overall, the government's plans to give away free vaping starter kits and to crack down on underage and illicit vape sales have been welcomed by some, but others have warned that more needs to be done to tackle addiction. In addition, the government's target of reducing smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030 may be difficult to achieve without further action.

The Government Plans to Give Away Free Vaping Starter Kits to Smokers in England

The UK government has announced that it will be giving away one million free vaping starter kits to smokers in England. This is part of a package of measures aimed at reducing smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030. The move has been welcomed by some, but others have warned that more needs to be done to tackle addiction.

Read more:  UK TO DISTRIBUTE 1 MILLION FREE VAPES AIMING FOR SMOKEFREE BY 2030

The First of Its Kind in the World

The free vaping starter kits, which will be given to almost one in five smokers in England, are part of a policy dubbed "swap to stop." According to Health Minister Neil O'Brien, this policy is the first of its kind in the world.

The Risks of Smoking

"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," said Mr. O'Brien. This underscores the need for the government to take action to encourage people to quit smoking.

Concerns About Vaping

While vaping is being promoted as an alternative to smoking, there are concerns about the rising popularity of the products among children. NHS figures from last year revealed that 9% of secondary school pupils use a vape regularly or occasionally, including almost one in five 15-year-olds. The government is launching a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales, but more needs to be done to discourage young people from taking up the habit.

More Needs to Be Done to Tackle Addiction

While the government's plan to give away free vaping starter kits has been welcomed by some, others have warned that swapping cigarettes for vapes is "nowhere near sufficient" in tackling addiction. Sarah MacFadyen, from the charity Asthma and Lung UK, said that tackling addiction was more complex than just swapping cigarettes for vapes. The government needs to provide personalized support to help smokers quit, rather than relying solely on giving away free vaping starter kits.

Achieving the Government's Target

The government has committed to reducing smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030. However, a review of the 2030 target published last year warned that it will be missed by at least seven years without further action. The author of the review, Dr. Javed Khan, called for a range of new measures, including a ban on smoking at outdoor spaces such as beaches and beer gardens. The government needs to take further action if it is to achieve its target of reducing smoking rates in England.

FAQs

  1. What is the UK government's plan to reduce smoking rates in England? The government plans to give away one million free vaping starter kits to smokers in England and is launching a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales. The government also wants to reduce smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030.
  2. Why is the government giving away free vaping starter kits? The government wants to encourage adult smokers to switch to vapes as an alternative to smoking. The free vaping starter kits will be accompanied by behavioral support.
  3. Are there concerns about the rising popularity of vaping among children? Yes, NHS figures from last year revealed that 9% of secondary school pupils use a vape regularly or occasionally, including almost one in five 15-year-olds. The government is launching a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales.
  4. Is swapping cigarettes for vapes sufficient in tackling addiction? No, while vaping can increase smokers' chances of successfully quitting, it is not a "silver bullet" or "totally risk-free," according to a report. More needs to be done to provide personalized support to help smokers quit.
  5. Will the government achieve its target of reducing smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030? A review of the 2030 target published last year warned that it will be missed by at least seven years without further action. The government needs to take further measures if it is to achieve its target of reducing smoking rates in England.