Vaping among adults at highest level in eight years

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Half of smokers told a survey that they think vaping is equally or more harmful than smoking The proportion of smokers who currently vape increased from 17 per cent in 2021 to 32 per cent in 2024, the equivalent of 2.2 million people. Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of Ash, said: “Smoking is still the country’s biggest preventable killer and vaping is one of many tools needed to help smokers quit if we are to create a smokefree country for current as well as future generations.” In July, the Labour Government revived plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that could progressively increase the age at which people can buy tobacco, preventing anyone born after January 1 2009 being legally able to do so. open image in gallery There has been ‘significant growth’ in the number of youngsters aware of e-cigarette promotion, Ash found “Tougher vape regulations are urgently needed, but it is important they are calibrated to address youth vaping while not deterring use of vapes as quitting aids.” Henry Gregg, director of external affairs at Asthma and Lung UK, said: “To help as many smokers as possible to quit, it’s vital that the Government increases investment in local stop smoking services. These have suffered drastic cuts in recent years but do a fantastic job of supporting people to stop smoking for good and deal with smoking’s deadly legacy.” Half of smokers told the survey that they think vaping is equally or more harmful than smoking, along with 60 per cent of smokers who have never used e-cigarettes.