The 'not-a-puff' rule is associated with better outcomes than gradual cessation, in both supported and unsupported quit attempts.
The 'not-a-puff' rule involves assisting people to stop smoking abruptly, commit to not smoking any further cigarettes after the quit date and also to promise to not taking even a single puff on a cigarette from that day forwards.
This briefing provides the rationale and the theoretical and empirical evidence behind this clinical intervention.
Date of last review: March 2025