Stop Smoking With VPZ
VPZ, the UK’s largest retailer of vaping products, has launched a new stop smoking service after ASH and Cancer Research UK found that 44% of local authorities no longer have a specialist service
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by Dave Cross
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VPZ was confirmed as Scotland’s fastest growing company in Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track Top 100 league table, ranking 24th in the overall UK standings. As part of the support service, the vaping specialist is also partnering with supplier Innokin to offer smokers a 30-day money back guarantee on their discounted starter-kit.
The investment and commitment to improving the health of adult smokers in the UK has been made at a time when local authorities are cutting stop smoking services throughout the country. A recent report from Action on Smoking and Health, and Cancer Research UK, found that 44 per cent of local authorities no longer have a specialist stop smoking service for smokers in their area.
The annual report found that support for smokers and funding for other measures to promote quit attempts has fallen by £41.3m since 2014/15, a decline of 30 per cent. With the impact of the Government public health budget cuts being felt in communities throughout the country, VPZ is stepping-in to provide a valuable and structured support service, whilst bringing momentum to the Government’s pledge to be smoke free by 2030.
From September 2nd, smokers will be able to access support and educational advice on becoming cigarette free from its well-informed staff across its network of 135 stores. Stores across the country will also be equipped with a carbon monoxide and lung-testing monitor, allowing customers to regularly track their journey to becoming cigarette free.
Customers who continue vaping at the end of the 30-day support programme will also be rewarded with a voucher to help them continue on their stop smoking journey.
VPZ has announced the launch of the service as mounting evidence shows that vaping could become a key weapon in the NHS’s stop smoking strategy.
Public Health England estimates that vaping is at least 95 per cent less harmful than smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes. Latest figures also show that approximately 2million people in the UK have already quit smoking by switching to vaping, with 500,000 more presently trying to switch. Furthermore, Cancer Research UK estimates that there are currently 9.4million smokers in the UK who can still potentially switch to vaping.
Doug Mutter, director at VPZ, said: “Our customer engagement tells us that most smokers want to quit. Sadly, the huge cuts in public health spending is currently failing smokers throughout the country and they are being denied the vital help that can truly transform their health and wellbeing.”
“Vaping is already proving to be a key weapon in the UK’s stop smoking strategy and a radical rethink is required by Government if the country is to meet its 2030 target of becoming smoke-free. With this long-term ambition in mind we have decided to take positive action and establish our own support service throughout our growing store network with an offer that allows every smoker to try vaping.”
“Smokers will be able to come into our stores, receive advice from our educational staff and have access to the best starter kit on the market. Many of our staff have made the journey to become cigarette free and so sharing their personal experience can be a powerful tool to help people stay on track and quit for good.”
“They will also be able to test their carbon monoxide levels and lung-capacity every week, ensuring ongoing engagement as they make the switch. We are so confident that vaping can help smokers become cigarette-free that we are offering a 30-day money back guarantee on our Innokin starter kits, and support throughout the journey.” he added.
Related:
- ONS report on e-cigarette and vaping use in the UK – [link]
- Public Health England report – [link]
- Action on Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK report – [link]
Photo Credit:
Images supplied by VPZ
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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