Controversial promotion of electronic cigarettes from England
The British government announced that it will encourage approximately one million smokers to use e-cigarettes with its new programme.
In addition, financial incentives, such as gift certificates, will be provided to encourage pregnant women to quit smoking.
Currently, 13% of the UK population are smokers, while the government aims to reduce this rate to 5% or less with the new programme.
UK Health Minister Neil O’Brien said: “We will offer new help to one million people to stop smoking. We will fund the new national program called ‘Switch to Quit’ which will be the first in the world in this field.
Although the UK’s smoking rate is below the global average, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the country, according to the Ministry of Health. (AA)