UK’s Free Vape Scheme ‘Under Threat’ From WHO: Campaigners

People walk past a newsagent advertising the sale of vape electronic cigarettes in Streatham Hill, in south London, on April 1, 2023. (Susannah Ireland/AFP via Getty Images)

A newly announced government vape scheme aimed at a million smokers could come under threat from World Health Organization (WHO) proposals, campaigners say.

The “swap to stop” initiative, which will see smokers in England offered free vapes to stub out cigarettes, was announced by ministers on Tuesday.

Vape starter kits will be offered to almost one in five of all smokers under a push to make the nation “smoke free.”

Pregnant women will also be offered cash on top of the plans, as a consultation on introducing mandatory advice on quitting smoking inside cigarette packs is to be launched.

However, concerns have now been raised that the government scheme could be short-lived if WHO proposals to ban vaping products get the go-ahead.

According to the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) group, the WHO is set to discuss plans to place restrictions on vapes at the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at the 10th Conference of the Parties in November.

The proposals include prohibiting the sale of open vape systems and most e-liquid flavours.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, NNA Chair Louise Ross said the plans are “a concern” as any WHO restrictions would be implemented in the UK.

“There’s a tension there, certainly between what the WHO are pressing for and what the UK announced today,” she said.

“Because from what we read, WHO are looking to, for instance, ban open systems—the tanks—which is almost certainly what will be given out in the the scheme that the government announced today. So there is a problem.”

‘1st of Its Kind’

Ross said the group—which has launched a ‘call-to-action’ over the WHO proposals—has been campaigning for vaping as a safer alternative to smoking for many years.

“We still get many people in the media and so on saying that vaping is as bad as smoking,” she said.

“Well, it clearly isn’t. So this sends a really good message out. But I suspect that we will still have trouble with WHO.

“If nobody stands up, it will be passed and every every member of the FCTC will have to abide by that.

“We need to protest now.”

Health minister Neil O’Brien launched the new government schemes in a speech on Tuesday.

“Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking,” he said.

“Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly.

“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.”

Mitchell Baker who works at the Vapour Place, a vaping shop in Bedminster, exhales vapour produced by an e-cigarette in Bristol, England, on Dec. 30, 2016. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Speaking at Policy Exchange, O’Brien ruled out raising the age of sale of tobacco and cigarettes.

“We think that’s too big a departure from the policy we’ve been involved in for many decades which is of helping people to quit rather than banning adults from buying cigarettes,” he said.

“So that’s not something we’re going to pursue—instead we want to major on measures to help people quit smoking rather than do that.”

O'Brien said his department will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers the free vaping starter kit.

A choice of products, strengths, and flavours will be on offer to allow smokers to find the best product for them.

Officials say this is the first scheme of its kind to be rolled out nationwide.

Funding for the stop to swap scheme—estimated by officials to cost around £45 million over two years—will come from the Department of Health and Social Care’s budget.

Underage Vape Crackdown

Officials say 9 percent of women still smoke during pregnancy in England and hope a financial incentive alongside behavioural support will get all of them to stop by the end of the year.

While the details are yet to be determined, its expected vouchers will be available throughout pregnancy and could total up to £400 if they complete the scheme.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, welcomed the scheme.

“Vapes increase smokers’ chances of successfully quitting, as do vouchers for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are nowhere near sufficient,” she said.

Last year, a major review led by Javed Khan said smoking should be banned in outdoor spaces such as beer gardens, cafe pavements, and beaches.

It also said vaping should be promoted as a means to help people stop using tobacco.

But he acknowledged vapes are not a “silver bullet,” nor are they “totally risk free,” though the alternative of smoking was said to be far worse.

Arnott said “not enough has changed” since the report was published and said funding is “desperately needed to reinstate cuts of more than 90% to mass media campaigns.”

“Not to mention the absence of the tougher regulations Khan recommended to raise the age of sale, and reduce the appeal of smoking as well as vaping,” she added.

Sarah MacFadyen, from charity Asthma + Lung UK, said “vaping isn’t going to work for everyone” and that smokers need “stop-smoking services offering personalised support, funded properly through a tobacco industry levy.”

The latest announcement comes on top of plans to crack down on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s.

On Sunday, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that “bold new measures” are set to be introduced to combat rising levels of youth vaping.

The tough plans include the setting up of a new “illicit vapes enforcement squad”—backed by £3 million of government funding—to enforce rules on vaping and tackle illegal underage sales of vapes.

PA Media contributed to this report.