A pan-London partnership for tobacco control has launched a first-of its kind position statement1 for London, calling for those working with adult smokers to encourage them to swap to vaping to stop smoking.

The London Tobacco Alliance, a partnership created to accelerate efforts to eliminate smoking in London, has published its position on the use of nicotine vapes as a stop smoking aid for adults. Specifically focused on nicotine vaping as a tool for adults who wish to give up smoking tobacco, the statement also supports measures3 to make vaping less accessible and appealing to children.

Based on the latest evidence, the London Tobacco Alliance believes that alongside free behavioural support and licensed stop smoking aids, nicotine vapes play a significant role in reducing tobacco harm for adult smokers and supporting them to quit, improving public health, and helping to reduce health inequalities in London.

Smoking is still the leading cause of premature death and preventable disease in the UK. Recent analysis by Cancer Research UK estimates that tobacco causes the death of one person in London every hour and is responsible for more then one in four hospital cancer deaths.

Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for London in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), said:

“Nicotine vaping offers adult smokers an alternative source of nicotine which significantly reduces tobacco harms. Vaping is the most popular stop smoking aid in use in England and research shows that it poses significantly less risk than tobacco for adult smokers2.

“As a tool to help adult smokers quit, nicotine vaping does have an important role to play in achieving London’s ambition to be a smokefree city by 2030.”

Somen Banerjee, Co-Chair and Smoking Cessation Lead of the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), said:

“This position statement provides a collective position on the use of nicotine vapes for London, underpinned by a live toolkit.

“The aim is to equip those who are developing policies in London around the use of nicotine vapes to help adults to stop smoking with the knowledge and confidence that their approach is rooted in systematic reviews of the latest evidence.”

Chris Streather, NHS Medical Director for London and London Tobacco Alliance board member said:

“Smoking is still the number one killer and cause of preventable disease in England. While nicotine is addictive, it’s the thousands of chemicals in tobacco that are toxic. Nicotine replacement therapy is safe to use and has been used for years to help people stop smoking. While it is never recommended that non-smokers start vaping, nicotine vaping, combined with behavioural support has proven to be an effective tool to help adult smokers quit.

“Despite this, uncertainty exists which can cloud people’s understanding of the risks of vaping for adult smokers, when compared to that of smoking tobacco. This position statement seeks to address misconceptions amongst professionals working with London’s smokers.”