North Yorkshire Council is set to spend up to £477,000 on e-cigarettes to help residents quit smoking.
A report due to be considered by senior councillors later this week recommends launching a procurement process to secure a supplier to provide e-vouchers for e-cigarettes and related products through the council’s Living Well Smokefree service.
The proposed contract would run from July 2026 to July 2029 and would be demand-led, with no guarantee that the full amount would be spent.
The e-cigarettes would be provided free of charge to people accessing the stop smoking service, with costs covered through ring-fenced public health funding.
Council documents state that smoking remains the biggest preventable killer in the UK and is estimated to cost North Yorkshire around £400m a year in health, social care and wider impacts.
Under the proposals, eligible smokers working with Living Well Smokefree advisers would receive a voucher code to redeem online for reusable, rechargeable devices and associated products, with disposable vapes are now banned.
Since e-cigarettes were introduced into the service in July 2023, 487 people have used them as part of their quit attempt, with 363 achieving a successful four-week quit – a reported 75 per cent success rate.
Longer-term figures show 33 per cent remained smoke-free after a year.
The funding forms part of the Government’s Smokefree Generation ambitions, which aim to reduce national smoking prevalence to five per cent by 2030. North Yorkshire has been allocated £642,000 for 2025/26 to support local stop smoking services.
The council says providing access to a range of quit aids – including nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes – is vital to help those who may require multiple attempts to stop smoking.
If approved, the procurement process will begin in the coming months, with the new contract expected to start in July 2026.
Categories announced for Harrogate Dog Show 2026
BID businesses vote 'yes' for new five-year term for Ripon BID
Masked fundraising ball returns to Harrogate next weekend
From Harrogate to New York: Ladies College pupil secures Ivy League place
Harrogate Spring Flower Show shortlisted for national tourism award
New matcha and coffee shop opens in Harrogate
Mother Shipton's Cave launches 'world's creepiest' Labubu-style toys for charity
Knaresborough named among top 10 'most beautiful places' in UK
Full music programme revealed for Harrogate Food and Drink Festival
Court upholds council's decision on Harrogate Gateway scheme
Harrogate family take on Yorkshire Three Peaks to honour late mum
Ripon crowned Yorkshire's domestic tourism capital
Former Bed Restaurant owner reflects 10 years after closure
Harrogate Theatre pantomime nominated for national award
WATCH: Filming for All Creatures Great and Small takes place in Ripley
Harrogate MP blasts Mayor for failing to act on disabled bus pass restrictions
Local attractions to close as Met Office issues yellow weather warning for wind
Harrogate taekwondo master awarded MBE for long-standing contribution to sport
Harrogate dance group set for world record attempt
Gareth Southgate visits popular Harrogate pub
