In an attempt to “improve the health of the nation” and “cut smoking rates”, almost one in five of all smokers in England will be handed vape starter kits for free.
The UK Government is to give one million smokers a free vape starter kit in a bid to get them to swap their cigarettes for vapes.
They’ll also be given free behavioural support to help them quit as part of the series of new measures intended to help meet the country’s ambition of being smoke-free by 2030.
These new measures will work to deliver the Government’s three aims, which are to help more adults quit smoking, stop children and non-smokers from taking up vaping, and using vaping as a tool for established adult smokers to quit.
🆕 We’re taking action to help people quit smoking & prevent youth vaping.
New measures will help one million adult smokers switch to vaping & a specialist team will tackle illegal and underage vape sales.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 11, 2023
On top of the free vape starter kits, the Government is also set to offer pregnant women financial incentives to help them stop smoking – which comes after the success of several local trial schemes, and will involve offering them vouchers and behavioural support in exchange for the promise that they’ll stop smoking by the end of next year.
Additionally, there is also to be a “crackdown” on illicit vape sales as part of measures to stop children and non-smokers taking up the habit.
It’s hoped that all these new measures will eventually reduce smoking rates to 5% or less.
The Government says it’s also keen to cut smoking rates so that the number of smoking-related illnesses needing to be treated is reduced, which, in turn, relieves pressure on the NHS and helps to deliver on its priority of cutting NHS waiting lists.
Image: Unsplash
The new measures have been informed and set out following an independent smoking review led by Javed Khan.
“Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking,” said Health Minister Neil O’Brien.
“Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly, so we will offer a million smokers new help to quit.
“We will fund a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme, which the first of its kind in the world, and we will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.”
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
‘Historic’ moment as UK passes bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking
Emily Sergeant
The UK has now passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco products.
It's been a long time coming, but in what is being described as a 'historic' moment, the final draft of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill completed its journey through the Houses of Commons and Lords yesterday (21 April 2026), and is now on its way to receiving royal assent to officially become the law.
For those unfamiliar, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop people who were born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever taking up smoking.
It will also give Government ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products – including their flavours and packaging, which make them more appealing to younger generations.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hailed the bill's passing as a 'historic moment for the nation's health' on the road to creating a smoke-free generation.
The UK has passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking / Credit: Pxhere
"Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm," Mr Streeting said after the bill was passed this week.
"Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain."
The ban on purchasing tobacco products for those born after 2008 was first mooted by Rishi Sunak's Conservative Government a number of years back, but was eventually shelved ahead of the 2024 General Election, and then revived again by Labour when they took power.
The bill's passing parliament has been welcomed by charities and campaign groups - most notably Cancer Research UK.
"This is a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction and help to put an end to cancers caused by smoking," concluded Michelle Mitchell, who is the Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research.
Emily Sergeant -
12th April 2023 
