Health chiefs tell smokers: Try a vape shop!

HEALTH chiefs are steering smokers who want to quit towards controversial vaping shops despite growing fears over safety.

Public Health England’s latest ‘stop smoking’ campaign includes a new website that directs people to an online guide to e-cigarette sellers in their area.

They are asked to complete an online questionnaire about their smoking habits before clicking on a link to find their ‘local specialist vape shop’. It comes only days after a PHE adviser quit over the organisation’s partnership with the alcohol industry’s Drinkaware charity.

Last night, scientists criticised the health body for promoting the sale of ‘unproven products’, many of which are made by the tobacco industry. They warned that while e-cigarettes are generally considered less harmful than the traditional variety, studies have linked their use to health problems including heart disease and cancer.

Professor Martin McKee, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: ‘This coincides with the US Food and Drug Administration responding vigorously to evidence of a rapid increase in [vaping] among adolescents. England’s approach is raising eyebrows abroad.’

PHE’s recommendation is part of its annual ‘Stoptober’ campaign to encourage smokers to quit.

The organisation said only independent e-cigarette shops are listed. ‘Specialist vape shops are ideally placed to advise people looking to use e-cigarettes to help them quit,’ a spokesman added.