British government will give smokers electronic cigarettes to quit tobacco

UK Department of Health and Social Care announced on 11 April an unprecedented national campaign against smoking. One million smokers in the UK will be given a free vape starter kit, according to Neil O’Brien, Undersecretary of Parliament for the UK Department of Health and Social Care.

The program’s motto – “change to stop” or change to stop in Portuguese – is based on the assumption that people who are encouraged to use electronic cigarettes will stop smokers from using tobacco products. Included with the kit, buyers (representing one-fifth of British smokers) they will also receive behavioral support to help them quit this habit.

The ultimate goal of the campaign is to help the government achieve its ambitious goal. Eliminate smoking in the country by 2030 or at least 5% or less. The campaign will reach out to all local authorities later this year for details of their programs, including priority populations.

What do the British authorities want?

The British government has set three main goals to realize its anti-smoking plan: to encourage more adults to quit smoking, to prevent children and non-smokers from starting vaping, and to use these electronic devices as a tool for people to quit smoking.

In his speech on Tuesday, O’Brien also promised for the coming year: Financial incentives for pregnant women to quit smoking. By the end of 2024, they are expected to receive vouchers that qualify for help and behavioral support.

But many criticize the campaign: there is concern increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes among children, In addition to the risk of disease caused by the device itself, such as the recently discovered “e-cigarette-related lung injury” (English abbreviation EVALI).