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Council Set To Pay Smokers To Quit Cigarettes

Home> News

Published 08:28 31 May 2022 GMT+1

Council Set To Pay Smokers To Quit Cigarettes

Evidence suggests smokers are more likely to quit with incentives

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

A pilot scheme proposed by Cheshire East Council will see smokers paid up to £400 in cash to quit the habit for good.

The incentive scheme was discussed by the Adults and Health Committee on Monday, 30 May, as a report revealed 'approximately 10.5 percent of the general population and 10.8 percent of pregnant residents (at the time of birth) smoke' in Cheshire East.

The rates are 'similar to or worse than the national average and are no longer declining', the report explained, prompting the need to consider new approaches to reduce smoking.

Evidence has shown smokers are more likely to quit with incentives.
Pixabay

'Robust evidence' cited in the report indicated financial inventive schemes are an 'effective method of helping people to quit' smoking, prompting the suggestion to offer cash to members of the public in a bid to encourage them to stop smoking.

"People receiving incentives (cash payments or vouchers for goods or groceries) were approximately 50% more likely to have stopped smoking than those who did not receive incentives," the report explained.

Participants in the scheme would have to take exhaled carbon monoxide tests to confirm they were quitting, and would be paid in instalments up to £200 for the general population and £400 for pregnant women.

The suggestion comes as smoking continues to be the leading cause of cancer and preventable death worldwide, as well as the 'most important modifiable risk factor in pregnancy'.

The council is proposing an incentive scheme to encourage people to stop smoking.
Pixabay

Should the incentive scheme go ahead, the report noted that it would align with Cheshire East Council's plans to reduce health inequalities across the borough and support children in having the best start in life, writing: "Reducing smoking rates in pregnant women will improve the short and longterm health outcomes of infants and their families."

Cheshire East Council currently encourages people to stop smoking through the One You Cheshire East service, which offers community classes and the opportunity to work with a Health Coach who will offer support, motivation and information about nicotine replacement products and other stop smoking medicines.

The council notes smokers are 'three times more likely to succeed by working one-to-one or in a group with a Health Coach than going it alone'.

Following the discussion of the report yesterday, a formal decision report is set to be submitted on 18 July.

Approximately 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking each year, while many other smokers go on to live life with

debilitating smoking-related illnesses. It causes 70 percent of cases of lung cancer as well as being a leading cause of many other types of cancer.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: Health, UK News, Money

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is the Community Desk Lead at LADbible Group. Emily first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route. She went on to graduate with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University before contributing to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems. She joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features, and now works as Community Desk Lead to commission and write human interest stories from across the globe.

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