New findings from a comprehensive survey examining the vaping behaviour of 11-17 year olds in Britain show that around 18% of 11-17 year olds, equating to 980,000 children, have tried vaping.
The figures from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reveals that while the rate of youth vaping has stabilised, it remains a serious cause for concern, with close to a million children having tried vaping.
The survey highlights key trends which emphasise the need for immediate government intervention.
Nearly three quarters of 11-17 year olds reported exposure to vape promotion, an increase from previous years. The most common sources of exposure were in shops and online and despite laws prohibiting the sale of vapes to under-18s, 48% of underage vapers reported purchasing vapes from shops.
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.
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.”
