Rapid Rise in Vaping in Britain Has Stalled
By Jill Dando News
The sharp rise in vaping across Great Britain appears to have levelled off, according to a new study by UCL researchers—offering a positive sign for policymakers aiming to curb youth vaping.
Published in Addiction and funded by Cancer Research UK, the study analysed survey data from England, Wales and Scotland before and after the UK Government’s January 2024 announcement of plans to restrict vaping, including a ban on disposable e-cigarettes set to begin in June.
From January 2022 to January 2024, vaping rates grew by nearly 25% annually. But since January this year, that growth has stalled—including among young people.
Most strikingly, use of disposable vapes has fallen sharply. Among 16- to 24-year-olds, the proportion mainly using disposables nearly halved, from 63% to 35%.
Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said: “While action is still needed to tackle high vaping rates, the recent plateau suggests more extreme policies may not be necessary. Our findings also indicate that the upcoming disposable vape ban may have limited impact overall, as many users have already shifted to reusable products.”
The findings suggest the Government’s broader Tobacco and Vapes Bill—which also proposes restrictions on vape packaging, marketing and flavours—can move forward with a more balanced approach.
Researchers say efforts to reduce youth vaping shouldn’t come at the cost of discouraging smokers from switching to safer alternatives.
Senior author Professor Jamie Brown added: “Smoking remains the top public health priority. These results show policymakers can focus on targeted measures, like curbing advertising and youth appeal, while continuing to support smokers trying to quit—through campaigns and initiatives like the swap to stop scheme.”
The study drew on data from 88,611 adults across Great Britain, collected as part of the Smoking Toolkit Study.
Vaping among those 16 and over rose from 8.9% in January 2022 to 13.5% by January 2024. In the 16–24 age group, usage climbed from 17% to 26.5%, before levelling off.
Disposable use also fell across the board—from 43.6% to 29.4% in a year—with a steeper decline among younger vapers.
Researchers noted some limitations, including that vapers were asked only about their primary device, possibly underestimating disposable use. It’s also possible some users downplayed their use following the Government’s announcement.
Still, the data paints a hopeful picture: vaping’s rapid rise has slowed, and users are shifting away from disposables ahead of the official ban.
