Vapers Overtake Smokers For First Time In Britain

For nan first clip successful Great Britain, location are much over-16s utilizing vapes aliases e-cigarettes than smoking cigarettes, according to nan Office for National Statistics.

Some 5.4 cardinal adults usage vapes regular aliases occasionally, compared pinch 4.9 cardinal utilizing cigarettes, an ONS study for 2024 suggests.

Daily usage of vapes is astir communal among 25-49 twelvemonth olds, pinch rising usage among women.

The fame of cigaret smoking has been falling for nan past decade arsenic nan harmful effects of baccy encouraged galore to quit, while little risky vape usage has been rising - peculiarly among younger property groups.

Vaping poses a mini fraction of nan risks of smoking, the NHS says, since cigarettes merchandise thousands of chemicals erstwhile they burn, galore of which are venomous and tin origin cancer. Switching to vaping reduces those risks.

The ONS's Opinions and Lifestyle Survey suggests that 10% of adults aged 16 and complete presently usage an e-cigarette each time aliases occasionally - somewhat much than nan 9.1% who opportunity they presently smoke.

The number saying they've fixed up smoking has risen - 74.2% successful 2024, up from 70.3% successful 2023.

Back successful nan 1970s, little than 30% had discontinue nan habit. At that time, astir half of nan organization were smokers.

But overmuch has changed since then. In 2006-2007, a prohibition connected smoking successful enclosed nationalist places and workplaces was introduced and successful 2015, a prohibition connected smoking successful cars pinch children was brought in.

More precocious successful 2017, plain cigaret packaging was introduced.

And authorities government presently progressing done parliament will soon mean anyone calved connected aliases aft 1 January 2009 will not beryllium legally allowed to bargain baccy successful nan UK.

Rules connected really vapes are packaged and displayed successful shops are besides group to beryllium tightened complete concerns that nan devices are appealing to children.

The ONS study suggests 6.7% of group aged 16 and complete successful Great Britain usage a vape aliases e-cigarette each day, up from 5.9% successful 2023.

Another 3.3% opportunity they usage 1 occasionally.

This equates to 5.4 cardinal existent vape users, a emergence from 5.1 cardinal successful 2023.

The usage of e-cigarettes "daily aliases occasionally" remained highest among 16 to 24 twelvemonth olds successful Great Britain successful 2024 astatine 13.0%. But this is down from 15.8% successful 2023.