Stoptober 2025

Each October, the UK Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and partner agencies run Stoptober, a national stop-smoking campaign designed to galvanise mass participation, offer quitting support, and shift social norms around tobacco. In 2025, the campaign runs from 17 September (pre-launch) through 31 October, with the central theme:

“Let’s quit smoking together.”

This year’s messaging underscores community, mutual support, and unity: the idea is not just “you quit” but “we quit”. The theme seeks to reassure individuals that they are part of a collective movement, that they are not alone, and that support is available. 

But why should highly regulated organisations, those subject to strict compliance, audit, governance, and oversight, take notice (let alone participate)? Because Stoptober offers a powerful alignment: health promotion, risk mitigation, culture building, and compliance integration, all in one.

In this blog, Anna Nova Galeon will explore what Stoptober 2025 is all about, defining its purpose, key mechanics, and this year’s theme, “Let’s quit smoking together this Stoptober.” She then outlines the public health rationale and evidence supporting the campaign before examining how highly regulated organisations can strategically engage with it. The discussion will also highlight common challenges, potential pitfalls, and compliance considerations, followed by practical ways to measure success. 

What is Stoptober, and what is the 2025 theme?

Before we explore why Stoptober 2025 matters for regulated organisations, it’s essential to understand what lies at the heart of this national movement. Every year, Stoptober uses behavioural science and collective motivation to help thousands take their first step towards a smoke-free life. By combining practical tools, emotional support, and a strong sense of community, the campaign continues to transform how people approach quitting.

Let’s take a closer look at how Stoptober works and how this year’s theme, “Let’s quit smoking together this Stoptober”, captures the power of shared progress and connection.

The core idea - 28 days, behavioural momentum

Stoptober is built around a behaviour-change insight: if someone can remain smoke-free for 28 consecutive days, they become much more likely to quit permanently. The campaign frames the quitting process not as a monumental lifelong vow from day one but as a time-boxed challenge, “just one month”, which feels more psychologically manageable.

By making it a collective, visible effort, Stoptober lowers isolation, evokes social proof, and normalises quitting behaviour.

2025 theme - “Let’s quit smoking together this Stoptober”

This year’s theme is explicit: unity, shared endeavour, collective support. 

• The phrase “Let’s quit together” frames quitting as a shared journey, reducing feelings of isolation or stigma

• It signals that smokers are not expected to go it alone; there is a “we” behind them

• It also allows partner organisations (public sector, NGOs, businesses) to co-brand and co-own the message: you too are part of the “we”.

The 2025 campaign toolkit includes a wide range of resources, including social media assets, posters, email templates, animations, localizable Canva versions, and more. 

The strategy encourages organisations to begin pre-campaign awareness-building from 17 September, leading into the core campaign in October. 

The evidence & public health imperative

Understanding Stoptober’s success requires more than knowing its message; it’s about recognising the solid public health evidence and behavioural science that drive it. Behind every campaign poster and social media post lies a wealth of data proving that quitting smoking benefits not only individuals but also communities, workplaces, and national health systems.

To understand why Stoptober remains vital, it’s worth looking at the evidence behind it:

Smoking’s burden & why it still matters

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease, premature death, and economic burden in the UK. The societal cost is enormous, estimated at £21.3 billion annually in England alone.

For individuals, the risks are well documented: cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, reduced life expectancy, and impact on mental health and quality of life.

Behavioural rationale & historical reach

Since its launch in 2012, Stoptober has prompted millions of people to make quit attempts. Its strength comes from combining mass messaging, social proof, and real-world support (NHS apps, local stop-smoking services).

The 28-day window is critical: passing that threshold helps break nicotine dependence, build new habits, and shift self-identity (from “smoker” to “non-smoker”).

Also, the campaign design includes spillover effects: even among those who don’t attempt quitting, awareness rises, conversations happen, and stigma around smoking shifts.

Community & social proof in 2025

The 2025 theme amplifies that social dimension. When thousands join the “we quit together” message, it strengthens momentum. People see others doing it and feel encouraged to try. The theme also helps reduce the psychological barrier - quitting becomes an act done not in isolation but as part of a shared movement.

Why regulated organisations should engage strategically

At first glance, Stoptober might seem outside the immediate remit of highly regulated organisations (finance, utilities, healthcare, government). But in fact, there are multiple strong arguments for participation:

Duty of care, health & safety, and employee well-being

Many regulated organisations have statutory or derived obligations to safeguard staff health, provide safe working conditions, and reduce occupational risks. Promoting smoking cessation aligns with that duty. A healthier workforce reduces long-term absence, medical claims, disability risk, and morale erosion.

Reputation, ESG, and stakeholder trust

Health and well-being increasingly sit within ESG or “social” commitments. Organisations that visibly back evidence-based public health campaigns earn credibility with stakeholders, regulators, clients, and the public.

Culture of compliance & engagement

Running a health campaign such as Stoptober internally sends a message: “We care about your wellbeing, not just your work output”. That helps soften the image of compliance as cold bureaucracy and encourages a culture of care and mutual accountability.

Partnership with compliance infrastructure

Many regulated organisations already have compliance systems, training platforms, audit trails, policy frameworks, and communications channels. Deploying Stoptober becomes an incremental request: a new content stream, a campaign module, or a health supplement to the existing compliance architecture.

Risk mitigation & long-term costs

Smoking-related ill health can lead to long-term absence, disability claims, insurance cost escalation, and reputational risk. Proactively encouraging cessation may be seen as mitigating those downstream liabilities.

How to run a compliant, impactful Stoptober campaign in regulated settings

Executing a campaign in a regulated environment requires extra care. Below is a blueprint tailored to high oversight settings:

A. Governance, review & stakeholder engagement

• Executive sponsorship - Frame the campaign as part of risk management, well-being, and compliance culture

• Legal / compliance review - Ensure all messaging is accurate, non-misleading, and does not create liability (e.g. promises of cures)

• Data protection & privacy - Smoking status is a type of health data. Ensure GDPR/UK GDPR compliance, minimal data collection, explicit consent, anonymisation, and secure storage

• Staff consultation/Unions - Engage staff groups to reduce perceptions of paternalism or intrusion.

B. Campaign design & integration

• Begin pre-promo activity around mid-September using “prelaunch” toolkit assets

• Brand and localise the official “Let’s quit smoking together” messaging internally (posters, intranet, screens, email templates)

• Deploy micro-learning modules (5–10 minute segments) via your LMS: e.g. “Why quit?”, “Coping with cravings”, “Support pathways.”

• Use nudges and reminders - Daily tips via email/SMS, short videos, leaderboards, and quit buddy pairing

• Offer structured support - Referrals to local stop-smoking services, internal coaching, facilitated peer groups, subsidised Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or behavioural therapy if allowed.

C. Logging, audit trails & reporting

• Track who was engaged (opt-ins), completion of training modules, and download of resources - maintain secure logs

• Use anonymised surveys at several points (weeks 1, 2, 4) to gauge challenges, drop-offs, and lessons

• At the campaign's end and during follow-up (3, 6, and 12 months), evaluate retention, relapse, and participation rates

• Prepare reports for internal audits, governance committees, or external regulators that demonstrate the campaign was run systematically, inclusively, and with oversight.

D. Incentives, recognition & sustainability

• Consider non-coercive rewards, such as certificates, recognition, and small wellness incentives (within HR policy)

• Link quitting success to broader wellbeing or benefits programmes

• Plan “maintenance months” (e.g. follow-up campaigns in spring) or relapse support programmes to sustain momentum beyond October.

E. Ethical & compliance sensitivities

• Participation must remain voluntary; no penalties will be imposed for non-participation

• Avoid stigmatising language or implied “you should quit or else” tone

• Ensure that quitting status is confidential and not used in HR decisions (unless voluntary)

• Offer support for people for whom quitting is medically difficult or not yet possible.

Measuring success & long-term value

Success is not just “number of quitters”. Here are multiple metrics and value dimensions for regulated organisations:

• Engagement metrics - Opt-in rate, module completions, email open/click rates, resource downloads

• Behavioural indicators - Number of user-reported quit attempts, 28-day smoke-free rates, usage of quit aids

• Health/absence proxies - Reduction in sick days, respiratory complaints, improved productivity (tracked over months)

• Cultural and qualitative shifts - Staff feedback, internal sentiment, wellness uptakes

• ROI analysis - Compare the cost of the campaign (staff time, incentives, support services) versus the estimated savings (lower absence, health claims, turnover)

• Governance/audit value - Ability to show proactive health promotion, documented logs, compliance with legal/privacy rules, and alignment with ESG or regulatory expectations.

Remember - Real value comes when such campaigns are no longer episodic but woven into the fabric of organisational culture.

Strengthen health, safety, and compliance with ComplyPlus™

At The Mandatory Training Group, we believe that awareness campaigns like Stoptober 2025 are more than moments of reflection; they’re opportunities to strengthen workplace wellbeing, accountability, and compliance.

Through ComplyPlus™, our all-in-one digital compliance ecosystem, organisations can integrate health promotion, policy management, training, and governance into daily operations. From automated reminders to auditable records, ComplyPlus™ helps teams stay aligned with health and safety standards while fostering a culture of care and continuous improvement.

Together, let’s turn awareness into action and build safer, healthier, and more compliant workplaces beyond Stoptober 2025.