£150 BRIBES TO QUIT SMOKING

by Paul Conneally | June 22, 2008 at 12:23 pm

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If this works it's a £150 well spent because that will save tax payers so much more in the long run in NHS bills to treat ill smokers.

Smokers could be PAID £150 each if they manage to kick the habit for three months.

The astonishing plan may go nationwide if pilot projects succeed.

Health chiefs and anti-tobacco campaigners think the bribes will be worth it compared to the £1.5billion a year it costs the NHS to deal with smoking related diseases. Smokers who take the money will have to take weekly carbon monoxide breath tests at a pharmacy to prove they are not cheating.

A £500,000 trial scheme will be launched in Dundee, Fife, later this year. Smokers will get £12.50 a week to give up cigarettes for 12 weeks.