Duration: 1:05

7 views

0

Southend-on-Sea is aiming to become a "smoke free" city by 2030 by promoting vaping as an alternative to smoking, according to the director of public health, Krishna Ramkhelawon. He claims that less than 5% of the population in Southend-on-Sea may be smokers by the end of the decade. The approach is to encourage smokers to quit tobacco and transition to vaping. However, the effectiveness and potential risks of vaping are still being debated. The city has seen a quit rate of over 40%, higher than in most other places. Concerns have been raised about the potential harm of vaping, particularly among young people. The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for a ban on disposable vapes by 2024 due to litter problems and the appeal to children. Southend-on-Sea's stop smoking service includes GPs and pharmacists providing support to quitters, and there are vape shops offering a "vape swap" service. The city aims to be the first area in the East of England to reach the 5% milestone of smokers.For more details, read the full article at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-66210317