In a world-first initiative, one million smokers in England will be encouraged to trade cigarettes for vapes in the innovative ‘swap to stop’ program. The aim is to boost public health and slash smoking rates to 5% or less, in line with the government’s ambition to become smokefree by 2030.
Participating local authorities will design schemes to suit their needs, including identifying priority groups. Health Minister Neil O’Brien will also announce financial incentives for pregnant women to quit smoking, providing vouchers and behavioral support.
Mandatory cigarette pack inserts with positive messages and information on quitting smoking are also being considered. In addition, authorities will crack down on illegal vape sales to protect children and non-smokers from taking up the habit.
The new policies address three core goals: helping adults quit smoking, preventing children and non-smokers from vaping, and using vaping as a tool for established adult smokers to quit. Quitting smoking reduces health risks, while smokefree pregnancies lower the chances of underweight or underdeveloped babies.
Cutting smoking rates also eases the burden on the NHS and helps to reduce waiting lists. The ‘swap to stop’ scheme pioneers a fresh approach to combating smoking and its detrimental effects on public health.
Will this world-first initiative be the game-changer needed to extinguish smoking for good? Or will it just encourage an equally addictive habit, one for which the true side-effects are still inconclusive?
THINK LIKE AN ECONOMIST!
Q1. Define the term government intervention.
Q2. Explain how the ‘swap to stop’ program aims to address the negative externalities associated with smoking.
Q3. Analyse the impact of the ‘swap to stop’ program on the demand and supply of cigarettes by drawing a demand and supply diagram, including the effects on price and quantity.
Q4. Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of using government intervention, such as the ‘swap to stop’ program, to address market failure and negative externalities related to smoking.
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