Almost one million youngsters have tried vaping this year, analysis finds

Vaping rates among children have stabilised but are not yet declining, according to new analysis, with close to one million youngsters in Britain admitting to trying e-cigarettes in 2024.

Experts said passing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes proposals to introduce restrictions on vapes, “is now a matter of urgency” to protect the health of children.

The survey by public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), which has been carried out by YouGov every spring since 2013, estimates 18% of 11 to 17-year-olds – or around 980,000 youngsters – have vaped in 2024.

More than half – 520,000 – had only tried e-cigarettes once or twice, with 3% vaping less than once a week, 4.2% more than once a week and 1.3% saying they no longer vape.

Ash said the poll “suggests the rapid rise in youth vaping since the pandemic has stabilised in 2024, it is not yet clearly declining”.

The proportion of children vaping experimentally – trying them once or twice – fell to 9.5% from 11.6% in 2023.

It comes after the Labour Government revived plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the King’s Speech last month.

The proposed legislation will progressively increase the age at which people can buy tobacco, preventing anyone born after January 1 2009 being legally able to do so.

It will also pave the way for measures to reduce the appeal of vaping to children and young people, such as restricting the flavours, packaging and display of e-cigarettes.

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of Ash, said: “The Ash 2024 survey findings that nearly a million under 18s have tried vaping, must stiffen the Government’s resolve to bring back the Tobacco and Vapes Bill immediately it returns from its summer break on Monday September 2.

“Cheap, accessible vapes, promoted on every street corner and packaged and labelled like sweets or toys are totally inappropriate, but until the Bill is on the statute book they cannot be taken off the market.

“E-cigarettes must be strictly regulated so their use is limited to the purpose they were created for, as an effective quitting aid for adult smokers.”

Of the 11 to 17-year-olds who currently vape, 48% told the survey they buy their e-cigarettes from shops, which is illegal.

Disposable vapes remain the most popular choice of e-cigarettes among young people, although the proportion of children using them fell to 54% in 2024 from 69% last year.

Ash said there has been “significant growth” in the awareness of e-cigarette promotion in recent years, with 55% of 11 to 17-year-olds aware of shop advertisements in 2024, up from 37% two years ago.

Dr Mike McKean, vice president of policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), raised concerns that vape companies have had “free reign” to target youngsters.

“That almost a fifth of teens having tried vaping is extremely worrying,” he said.

“At the end of the day, vaping is not risk free and very often addictive. I’m concerned that we have allowed e-cigarette companies free reign to target our children with these brightly coloured, flavoured, appealing and potentially damaging products.

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is now a matter of urgency for the health of our children and young people.

“We need our Government to have the necessary powers to regulate these products and companies, to protect children and young people, by implementing a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, limiting flavours, introducing plain packaging and restricting advertisements both online and in stores.”

Ash’s report also said the rise in youngsters and adults using e-cigarettes despite having never smoked “remains a concern”.

It also found that the proportion of young people who think vaping is more or equally as harmful as smoking cigarettes has grown from 13% in 2013 to 58% in 2024. This includes 43% of those who have tried e-cigarettes.

Professor David Strain, board of science chairman at the British Medical Association, added: “These findings highlight the alarming rise of vaping among young people as too many children are exposed to vape promotions in shops and online.

“As doctors, we are acutely aware of the harm these products can cause to children, including nicotine addiction.

“It’s clear that hundreds of thousands of children are not using vapes and e-cigarettes to quit smoking; instead, they are picking up an addictive habit that could lead to psychological and physical damage, with an increasing level of dependency.”

A Department for health and Social Care spokesperson said the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill “will protect future generations”.

“Vapes should only be used as a tool to help smokers quit – and children should never vape,” they added.

“That’s why we are committed to introducing tough new action to clamp down on youth vaping, including banning vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children, and restricting their packaging, flavours and display.

“The upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will protect future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine, saving thousands of lives and easing pressures on the NHS. By building a healthier society, we will help to build a healthy economy.”