The 'Not-a-Puff' rule

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 smokers 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.