England's national Swap to Stop program, which provides free vape starter kits and behavioral support to people trying to quit smoking, has successfully increased the number of people attempting to quit using vapes as an alternative. Researchers from University College London and King's College London analyzed data from the long-running Smoking Toolkit Study to measure the program's impact after it launched, finding encouraging evidence that the policy is working to shift smokers away from cigarettes.

How Is England's Swap to Stop Program Structured?

The Swap to Stop scheme targets smokers across England, with a particular focus on reaching people in more deprived communities where smoking rates remain highest. The program operates through accessible community touchpoints, making free vape kits and professional support available to anyone ready to quit.

• Free Vape Kits: Participants receive starter vaping devices at no cost, removing a financial barrier to switching from cigarettes.
• Behavioral Support: The program pairs vape distribution with counseling and guidance from trained stop-smoking advisors who help people navigate the transition.
• Community Access Points: Free kits and support are available through stop-smoking clinics, homeless centers, and job centers, ensuring reach across different populations and life circumstances.

What Did the Research Actually Measure?

Researchers used an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, a statistical method designed to detect changes in trends over time, to analyze monthly data from the Smoking Toolkit Study. They examined whether the launch of Swap to Stop was linked with an increase in the number of people using vapes as part of their quit attempts. The team also adjusted their analysis for other factors that could influence quit behavior, including tobacco tax increases and demographic characteristics like age, gender, and social grade.

Importantly, the researchers initially planned to compare England's results with Scotland and Wales to strengthen their findings. However, they found that the populations and pre-existing trends in those regions were too different to make a fair comparison, so they focused on England's data alone.

"We did not look at quit success, so we cannot say whether the people who tried to quit actually succeeded. But I think seeing that it actually led to a significant increase in people trying is already quite an encouraging result," explained Dr. Vera Buss from University College London.

Dr. Vera Buss, University College London

Why Does This Matter for Public Health?

The findings arrive at a critical moment for tobacco control in the UK. Smoking costs England an estimated 44.8 billion pounds annually, with lost productivity accounting for the largest share at 27.8 billion pounds. The disease burden is severe: smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year.

What makes England's approach unusual is that few countries provide free vaping kits at the national level. Professor Leonie Brose from King's College London highlighted this distinction, noting that the policy represents a significant investment in harm reduction. While vaping is not risk-free, research consistently shows it is substantially less harmful than smoking and remains one of the most effective tools for helping people quit cigarettes.

The program also reflects a broader shift in UK tobacco policy. In April 2026, the UK passed the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which introduces a generational ban on tobacco sales to anyone born in 2009 or later. Starting in January 2027, today's 17-year-olds will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes. Vapes are deliberately excluded from this ban because they serve as a cessation tool for adult smokers.

What Do Youth Vaping Trends Show About the Ban's Success?

Separate data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reveals that a complementary policy, the ban on single-use disposable vapes that took effect on June 1, 2025, is also achieving its dual goals of reducing environmental harm and deterring youth uptake. Among young people aged 11 to 17 who vape, only 13 percent now say disposable products are their main choice, down from 42 percent in 2025 and a peak of 69 percent in 2023.

The shift among adults is equally marked. Only 8 percent of adult vapers now primarily use disposables, compared with 24 percent in 2025 and a peak of 31 percent in 2023. Most adult vapers report reusing their devices, with 46 percent saying they reuse products at least ten times. However, a concerning 18 percent still rarely or never reuse their vapes, suggesting that behavioral challenges persist even as the ban takes hold.

There had been concern that the disposable ban might push some adults back to cigarettes. While 70 percent of people who mainly used disposables just before the ban reported no change to their smoking habits, 13 percent said the ban led to an increase in cigarette use. This finding underscores the importance of keeping reusable vaping alternatives accessible and affordable as part of a comprehensive harm reduction strategy.

What Comes Next for Tobacco Control Policy?

Secondary legislation under the Tobacco and Vapes Act is expected by 2029 and will cover licensing for tobacco retailers and advertising restrictions on vapes and nicotine products from June 2027. Policymakers also have the power to introduce limits on flavors, packaging, and outdoor smoking areas.

Public support for stronger tobacco control measures is robust. ASH surveys show that 68 percent of English adults back the generational tobacco ban, including 50 percent of Reform UK supporters. Additionally, 77 percent support a levy on tobacco companies to fund stop-smoking services. ASH is calling on the government to publish a national tobacco control strategy and set a target of two million fewer smokers by the end of Parliament, with increased investment in stop-smoking support reaching around 310 million pounds annually.

The data on vaping trends and quit attempts demonstrates that bold regulatory action, paired with accessible support and free alternatives, can shift behavior quickly. The challenge now is sustaining that momentum across a much larger and more entrenched public health problem while ensuring that harm reduction tools remain available to adults who need them most.