According to a Daily Telegraph report (headlined "Snoops to spread health living message") on a speech by health secretary Alan Johnson yesterday, the NHS could enlist unpaid "mentors" to offer on-the-spot advice when friends or colleagues are drinking, smoking or eating to excess.
Such advice could consist of passing on information about NHS stop smoking courses, according to a Department of Health spokesman.
In his speech Johnson expressed hope the scheme could revolutionise the nation's health and said mentors could be "amazingly successful".
The Telegraph claims ministers are concerned some people are turned off by its traditional methods of advising on public health, including large-scale advertising initiatives such as the recent £75m Change4Life campaign.
Johnson said: "The most effective message is in the bars and clubs and where people speak to each other."
The plans were criticised by the Tories as more evidence of Labour's "nanny-state" tendencies.
Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary, said: "If local health bodies have got spare money to spend they should really be focusing on higher priorities.
"Instead of dreaming up new nanny-state initiatives the NHS should be helped to deliver the qualified and expert care we really need."