UK Govt offers e-cigarettes to encourage quitting cigarette smoking

London: The UK government has introduced a scheme called 'swap to stop', which aims to discourage cigarette smoking by offering cigarette smokers vape starter kits. The scheme is also intended to curb the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s, despite complaints of increasing numbers of youngsters vaping.

The UK government has offered up to £400 to pregnant women to encourage them to quit smoking, in addition to providing vape starter kits through its 'swap to stop' scheme. The government also plans to introduce mandatory warnings against smoking on cigarette packs, following a consultation process.

The scheme will offer a free vaping starter kit to a million smokers across England, with a choice of products, strengths, and flavours available to help adult smokers find the best alternative for them.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce smoking rates and improve public health. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) hopes that the scheme will help to reduce the number of smokers, especially among pregnant women, and curb underage vaping, which has risen from 3.3% in 2021 to 7% last year.

The health minister, Neil O’Brien, has expressed concern about the increase in youth vaping and wants to "clamp down" on businesses that are "getting children hooked on nicotine."

The £45m schemes will be funded from the DHSC's budget and will offer financial incentives and behavioural support to pregnant women to encourage them to quit smoking. While the details are yet to be finalized, officials expect vouchers to be available throughout pregnancy and could total up to £400 if the scheme is completed.