World First Swap to Stop Scheme to Help Quitting Smoking
In 2019, the UK government pledged to end smoking by 2030, but this means the number of UK smokers must be below 5%. But the campaign wasn’t as successful as they hoped, in 2021 it was estimated that there were 14.1% of smokers in the UK.
And in 2023, the estimated number of smokers in the UK was around 13%. So, to tackle this and move this campaign in a faster direction, the NHS has introduced the world-first Swap to Stop Scheme.
So what is this new campaign to help reduce the amount of UK smokers? Let’s break this scheme down to see if you’re eligible for free vapes.
What is the NHS Swap to Stop Campaign?
The Swap to Stop campaign was first mentioned in April 2023, but as of the end of 2023, the UK government has released a press release for its launch for 2024.
The brand new smokefree campaign comes as the NHS scheme to encourage 5.3 million smokers in England to quit this January, and it will provide one million UK smokers with a free vape starter kit to start with.
The Health Minister, Neil O’Brien, said:
“We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme – the first of its kind in the world. We will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.”
Local Authorities have to request to join this innovative scheme and apparently, there are already 259,000 requests for vapes so far, nationwide.
The government wants to help people who want to give up smoking as a permanent habit by offering support and other options, as it is one of the main preventable causes of diseases in this nation.
Government authorities, medical specialists, community organisations, and the wider communities have united in the Swap to Stop campaign to pave the way for a smoke-free future for a healthier living society.
How Does The Scheme Work?
As part of the Swap to Stop initiative, one million smokers in the UK will receive free vape starting kits.
These kits include everything needed to start vaping, such as a vape device and e-liquids in a variety of flavours and nicotine intensities to suit the user’s preferences. The government thinks that this will allow smokers to move seamlessly from smoking to vaping while avoiding the dangerous pollutants inherent in regular cigarettes.
Quitting smoking can be difficult, but the Swap to Stop initiative is committed to providing participants with the necessary assistance for a smooth transition.
In addition to offering free vape starting kits, the programme provides extensive resources, educational materials, and advice on how to utilise vaping devices efficiently so the campaign is more effective for soon-to-be ex-smokers.
As part of the swap-to-stop scheme, pregnant women will be given vape vouchers as a financial incentive to switch to vaping. Mandatory informative inserts will also be inserted in cigarette packets to educate users about the dangers of tobacco and facilitate the transition.
These financial incentives have been tested locally across the country over the last year and have proven to be effective, so we’re pleased to see that the scheme has been expanded to address the issue on a bigger scale.
How Does Vaping Help to Quit Smoking?
Vapes are electronic devices that allow you to inhale nicotine as a vapour, rather than smoke. This is accomplished by heating a solution (e-liquid), which commonly contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings, and nicotine.
E-liquids are available in a variety of nicotine concentrations and nicotine types, such as freebase/standard and nic salts, allowing you to manage how much nicotine you need to aid with cravings and other withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and low mood.
Nicotine is not particularly dangerous and has been used safely in medicines for many years to assist people to quit smoking.
The reason why the NHS say that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking cigarettes is because when you combust the tobacco (light up your cigarette), that’s when you’re inhaling carbon monoxide and tar. E-cigs instead warm up the nicotine and e-liquid to create vapour, making it a safer alternative to satisfy your nicotine cravings.
Once you start vaping, it’s easier to quit, as you can start at a nicotine strength that feels right for you and gradually decrease the nicotine strength to 3mg until you’re vaping nicotine-free liquid.
So not only can you easily quit vaping and kick the habit, but you can customise your vaping habits with flavourful vape juice to make the experience more pleasant than cigarettes ever could.
How to Get Free Vapes Through The Scheme
If you want to quit smoking and live a healthier lifestyle, the Swap to Stop campaign is here to help.
Stay tuned for details from the UK government and local authorities on how to sign up and receive your free vape starter kit.
As it hasn’t been announced which local authorities will be able to hand out the free vapes, each local authority will be able to customise the scheme to suit the needs of their locals and give priority to certain areas that need the support the most.
Remember, quitting smoking is a journey, and the new Swap to Stop scheme will provide you with the tools and support you need to take that crucial first step towards a smoke-free future.
Our Recommended Vape Starter Kits to Kick The Habit
If you’re an avid smoker looking for a starter vape kit now, here are our best-recommended vape devices that will make your transition smooth and enjoyable.
Vaporesso XROS 3
The Vaporesso XROS 3 starter pod kit is ideal for beginners or people who desire a simple, convenient, and hassle-free vaping experience.
This pod is really simple to use, it has an adjustable airflow for MTL or RDTL vaping, a button for inhaling and auto-draw activation, and a 1000mAh battery to last up to 48 hours of vaping!
To get started with this pod kit, simply fill up the removable 2ml pod with your choice of 50/50 e-liquid, wait 5 minutes for the coil to be saturated and start vaping!
The XROS 3 actually won the Best Pod Vape by Ecigclick in 2023, and that is no surprise with how convenient this vape is.
To make this transition even smoother, we offer this device with 3 10ml Bar Juice e-liquids so you can get stuck in right away!
VooPoo Argus P1S
The Argus P1s by VooPoo is another excellent pod kit for ex-smokers, it’s a portable vape kit that is suitable for both new and seasoned vapers.
It includes an 800 mAh built-in battery, 2A rapid charging, and is extremely user-friendly, making it ideal for all vapers. It is ideal for MTL (mouth-to-lung) vaping because it has a 5-25W power range.
With super fast charging and an extended coil lifespan, this is the ideal pod kit for ex-smokers looking for a satisfying hit.
We recommended 50/50 nicotine salt liquid or freebase nicotine liquid with this pod kit.
OXVA Oneo
OXVA is great for pod systems but their ONEO pod vape is the latest addition to its innovative family, it’s hassle-free, convenient, and really simple to use.
This device has a massive 1600mAh battery for up to three days of moderate vaping, a configurable RGB lighting display, and ergonomic airflow control to provide a smooth vaping experience.
Even though it can fit comfortably in your hand, this kit provides an impressive 40 watts of maximum power for the coil resistance that you use.
Again, we recommend 50/50 vape juice with either nic salts or freebase nicotine with this device.
The reason why we recommend 50/50 e-liquid with these devices is because these devices are the most simple, yet powerful, kits to kick in your smoking habit. 50/50 e-liquid is the best for these kits, but nicotine salt vape liquid is the best for satisfying those nicotine cravings faster and hitting the back of your throat like a cigarette does.
If you are a heavy smoker, we have a more in-depth blog about the best vape kits for you.
Quit Smoking with Vapoholic
Vaping is a legitimate tool for adults to quit smoking, but the health advice is clear: if you don’t smoke, don’t vape, and children should never vape.
The United Kingdom is currently on track to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation by phasing out tobacco sales, and it plans to enact a new rule prohibiting minors under the age of 14 in 2023 – or younger – from being legally sold tobacco in England.
Keep your eyes peeled for news regarding your Local Authority handing out free vapes to stop smoking, or try one of the suggested vape devices above to start your journey to vaping now.
If you need any guidance, support, or advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we will be happy to give you personalised recommendations and advice to make the transition easier.
