The UK government’s “smoke-free” goal by 2030 is being ramped up by their new “swap to stop” campaign.

On April 11o, the government released a statement that almost 1 in 5 people who smoke in England will be provided with a vape starter kit alongside behavioral support. This “world-first” national scheme is a big step in reaching that goal.

In addition this plan also includes the following: 

Pregnant women will be offered up to $400 as an incentive to quit smoking.

$3 million of funding for a vapes enforcement squad led by trading standards to prevent illicit and underage sales of vaping products.

A call for evidence for further ideas on how to encourage quitting and preventing youth vaping.

A consultation on introducing mandatory cigarette pack inserts with positive messages and information on quitting smoking.

This new plan comes on the heels of a government-commissioned review by Dr. Javed Kahn which concluded that the “government must embrace the promotion of vaping as an effective tool to help people quit smoking tobacco”. 

This news could not come at a better time, after all, it is Vapril.

Vapril, created and delivered by the UKVIA is dedicated to helping smokers choose the right vaping device, flavors and nicotine strengths that will give them the best chance to wave goodbye to smoking.

This campaign is not only important in helping smokers quit but it’s also essential to the UK vaping market. It helps to promote the industry and raise awareness of its products, services and benefits. VApril 2023 shows that the UKVIA is committed to ensuring consumers have access to reliable information so they can make informed decisions about their health.

It also helps to show the world that vaping is a viable option for those who want to quit smoking and can be used as an effective tool to make this happen. The UKVIA has developed VApril 2023 with the aim of helping smokers make a life-changing switch to vaping, one step at a time.

We applaud the UK and the effort they put forth to truly end smoking by promoting safer alternatives. Now if only the rest of the world would get on board, imagine how many lives could be saved from a lifetime of smoking.