Scottish City to Pay Smokers to Quit

FoxNews ^ | 6/21/08

[rawhide]

Smokers in deprived communities of the Scottish city of Dundee will be offered cash to quit the habit as part of a new program coming in the fall.

Organizers working with the Scottish government say the $986,000 pilot program aims to help 900 of the city's 36,000 smokers to stop over the next two years.

Participants in the new initiative will be offered $25 per week credited onto an electronic card for a maximum of 12 weeks. They can redeem the money in their local supermarket for fresh food and groceries — but not alcohol and cigarettes.

[rawhide]

Hmmm, what is stop a nonsmoker from participating in this? For $300, just buy a pack of cigarettes and claim you are a smoker?

[irishjuggler]

Exactly. What an incredibly idiotic idea for a government program. Why not just call the plan “Free money for clever non-smokers”?

[allmost]

Everyone’s smokin 3 packs a day now...

[escapefromboston]

Reminds me of a Simpsons episode where Bart’s plan to save money was to take up smoking and then quit.

Homer then says “its the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do” and then he gives Bart some money

to which Lisa replies “he didn’t do anything!!”

Homer “Didn’t he Lisa...didn’t he??....oh wait he didn’t!!”