Turning the tide on tobacco?

Blog post from Councillor David Fothergill on the new plans to help reduce smoking and become smoke free by 2030.


Analysis by epidemiologist Professor Sir Richard Peto has found that smoking has killed nearly eight million people in the UK in the last 50 years, with an estimated two million more expected to die in the next 20 years unless current smoking rates decline.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in England. Every day more than 200 people in England die from smoking-related disease and 280 children under 16 have their first cigarette. Two thirds of those smoking one cigarette will go on to become addicted, taking on average thirty attempts before they successfully quit for good.

Reducing smoking rates among the remaining 5.4 million smokers in England is the single biggest thing we can do to improve the nation’s health.

Last month the government announced plans for a world-first ‘swap to stop’ scheme encouraging smokers to make the switch to vaping by providing starter vape kits and behavioural support.

This campaign, along with offering financial incentives for pregnant women who quit smoking, are hoped to deliver on the Government's ambition to make the country smoke free by 2030.

The ‘swap to stop’ scheme will encourage one million smokers to make the switch from smoking to vaping with the hopes of not only cutting smoking rates but also improving the health of the nation. Almost one in five of all smokers in England will be provided with a free starter vape kit and behavioural support in this world-first national scheme to help adult smokers quit.

The idea is based on ‘swap to stop’ pilot programme was conducted in 2018 in Salford and was successful with over 60 per cent of participants who stayed with the programme being smoke free after four weeks. Local councils will be invited to take part in the scheme later this year.

Another scheme announced as part of this crackdown on smoking is the introduction of financial incentive being offered to pregnant smokers who quit, following the success of similar local schemes. This initiative is expected to be offered to all pregnant women who smoke by the end of this year, and will include vouchers along with behavioural support to assist in a stop smoking attempt.

It is hoped that by supporting more women to have a smoke free pregnancy we will see a reduction in the number of smoking-related complications such as babies born underweight or underdeveloped and requiring neonatal and ongoing care. It is hoped it will also reduce the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth and result in more healthy pregnancies.

The Government also revealed plans for a new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ which will be backed by £3 million of government funding with the intention of enforcing the rules on vaping and tackling illegal sales.

The enforcement squad will be led by Trading Standards and will work across the country undertaking projects such as test purchasing at convenience stores and vape shops, and will have the power to remove illegal products from shops and at our borders.

Worrying data from the ASH Smokefree GB Youth survey of 11 to 18-year-olds in England showed that current vaping prevalence was 8.6 per cent in 2022, compared with 4 per cent in 2021. It also found that over a fifth of youngsters bought vaping products from newsagents while 16.3 per cent bought them from a supermarket.

The LGA believes that vapes need to be out-of-sight and out-of-reach of children in the same way as cigarettes. It is not right that stores are able to prominently display vaping paraphernalia for all to see, such as in a shop window, often in bright, colourful packaging and attractive flavours that can appeal to children.

Vapes should only be used as an aid to quit smoking. While research has shown vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking, it is deeply worrying that more and more children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping. The evidence suggests that vaping is by no means risk-free, and so it is very alarming that young people are getting access to and using e-cigarettes.

An area that is of growing concern in relation to vaping is the effect on the environment, particularly “disposable” vapes. Councils report they are experiencing pollution from vapes in the form of plastic materials, electronic waste (including circuit boards and lithium-ion batteries), and hazardous chemicals. E-cigarette manufacturers and vendors could do more to ensure consumers dispose of their waste in a more environmentally friendly way.

Across the country, council public health teams work hard to help reduce smoking rates in their areas, alongside local charities and community groups, and it is testament to their efforts that smoking rates continue to fall. Councils commission integrated lifestyle services that offer support to all smokers. It includes face-to-face support, specialist support for pregnant women, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), support from local pharmacies and in some areas, their own digital apps, including specialist text helplines for young people. 

Whilst the £3m for Trading Standards is welcomed, it falls a long way short of the funding needed. Local councils’ public health grant has been cut by 24 per cent on a real-terms per capita basis since 2015/16 (equivalent to a reduction of £1 billion). This has had an adverse effect on councils’ ability to invest in services and functions that prevent ill health, reduce health inequalities and support a sustainable health and social care system. This includes smoking cessation and tobacco control.

Councils are a key player in supporting the Government’s ambition of eliminating smoking in England by 2030, both through their tobacco control policies and other essential public health and support services. With less than seven years to go, we have much still to do if we are to improve the health of the nation and become truly smoke free.

Councillor David Fothergill, Chairman, LGA Community Wellbeing Board.