The United Arab Emirates have launched a bold new move to cut down on the number of smokers with a cash incentive scheme that will make anybody who manages to quit smoking after Ramadan, £2,000 richer.
Twalib Ibrahim, a government representative of the UAE explained that it was crucial for people to use Ramadan to quit, arguing that it is possible for a smoker to go 24 hours without a cigarette then they are capable of quitting permanently.
Essentially, anybody who registers for the programme will be subject to regular medical tests in order to determine whether they have become genuine non-smokers. If results show that they are free from any smoke related drugs, they will be awarded a prize, and a further 2 payments of £1,000, provided they remain smoke free.
However, government officials have said that anybody who is found to reconvene with their smoking habit will be forced to pay the money back.
We think the scheme is a good idea, given that financial gain is seen to be one of the biggest incentives to quit smoking, ironically after health. If similar schemes were to be launched in the UK, we may well see a drop in the number of smokers.
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