Awareness of a national initiative to provide free vapes for smoking cessation (Swap to Stop): a survey of adults in England

INTRODUCTION: In 2024, England implemented a world-first initiative providing free vapes and behavioral support to encourage smoking cessation, focusing on groups with higher smoking prevalence. This study aimed to assess awareness of the initiative and associations with sociodemographics, smoking, vaping, and past smoking cessation behavior. METHODS: Representative cross-sectional surveys conducted January 2024-December 2025 of adults (aged 16+) who currently smoked or had stopped in the last year in England (N = 6950). Associations between awareness and gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic position (occupational social grade), region, smoking status, urges to smoke, vaping status, survey time were assessed using weighted percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and multivariable logistic regressions. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed associations with past-year cessation attempts and support used. Post hoc country comparisons using October-December 2025 included Scotland and Wales (n = 153). RESULTS: Overall, 24.1% (95% CI: 23.0-25.2) were aware of the initiative. Awareness was lower among people aged 45-54 [adjusted OR = 0.78 (0.64-0.97)] than among people aged