Directors of public health in London have joined others in urging those working with adult smokers to encourage them to swap cigarettes for vapes to help them 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 an aid to help adults quit smoking.

The statement also supports recently announced measures to make vaping less accessible and appealing to children.

The alliance, which includes the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), argues that alongside free behavioural support and licensed stop smoking aids, nicotine vapes play a ‘significant role’ in reducing the harm caused by tobacco.

Tracy Parr, programme director, London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London said: ‘We have a shared ambition to reduce heath inequalities caused by tobacco dependence, whether this is setting effective tobacco control policies, running stop smoking campaigns, or delivering evidence-based stop smoking support at a local level and through Stop Smoking London, our digital and telephone service.’

She added: ‘Our position is simple: if you smoke, vaping is much safer and an effective tool to help you stop. If you don’t smoke, don’t vape. Marketing vapes to children is completely unacceptable.’

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.’

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