Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has published findings from a comprehensive survey examining the vaping behaviour of 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain.

The data has revealed that while the rate of youth vaping has stabilised, it remains a serious cause for concern, with close to one million children having tried vaping. The survey highlights key trends which emphasise the need for immediate government intervention.

The organisation has expressed disappointment that the ‘Tobacco and Vapes Bill’ was not tabled prior to the summer recess and will not be tabled until at least September 2024.

Until the bill is passed, the government does not have the powers it needs to regulate the advertising and promotion of vapes. ASH said this is what makes them particularly attractive to young people. This delay has hampered the government's ability to regulate vaping products effectively, leaving youth vulnerable.

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of ASH, said, "The sustained level of youth vaping and evidence that dependency may be increasing sets alarm bells ringing. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill must be brought back immediately after summer recess, and fast-tracked through Parliament, so urgently needed regulations to protect young people from vaping can be implemented.

“Vaping is an important tool to help adults quit, and it should be regulated accordingly, to prevent e-cigarettes being packaged and promoted as though they were children’s toys.”

Key findings

Prevalence of vaping among youth

  • Around 18 per cent of 11 - to 17-year-olds, equating to 980,000 children, have tried vaping.
  • Of those who have tried vaping, over half (53 per cent) had only done so once or twice, amounting to 520,000 children.
  • Three per cent vape less than once a week (160,000 children), while 4.2 per cent vape more than once per week (230,000 children).
  • 1.3 per cent of children who tried vaping reported they no longer vape.

Exposure to vape promotion

  • Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of 11 to 17-year-olds reported exposure to vape promotion, an increase from previous years. The most common sources of exposure were in shops (55 per cent) and online (29 per cent).

Purchasing trends

  • Despite laws prohibiting the sale of vapes to under-18s, 48 per cent of underage vapers reported purchasing vapes from shops.
  • Disposable vapes remain the most common product among young users (54 per cent), although this figure has declined from 69 per cent last year. This might be because of the latest reusable variants of disposable vapes being sold in anticipation of an upcoming disposable vape ban.

Dependency concerns

  • There is an indication that young vapers may be more dependent than they were four years ago, with more current vapers reporting strong urges to vape compared to 2020. This suggests that newer products may be increasing dependency, underscoring the urgency for stronger regulations.

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