One million smokers will be urged to swap cigarettes for vapes in a world first 'swap to stop' scheme. Almost one in five smokers in England will be offered vape starter kits in a bid to make the nation smoke free, ministers announced today (Tuesday).
Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking and a consultation will be launched on introducing mandatory advice on quitting smoking to be placed in cigarette packs. Campaigners described the measures as 'welcome steps in the right direction' but said they are 'nowhere near sufficient'.
Experts widely expect the pledge to get the nation smoke free by 2030 - classed as getting smoking rates to less than 5% -will be missed without further action. Health minister Neil O’Brien will launch the new schemes in a speech today.
