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October 3, 2024
A recent study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL) reveals a significant rise in the number of adults in England who vape but have never regularly smoked. This increase coincides with the growing popularity of disposable e-cigarettes, particularly since 2021. The findings, published in The Lancet Public Health, estimate that by April 2024, approximately one million adults in England, who never had a history of regular smoking, were using e-cigarettes—a sevenfold increase since 2021.
The study indicates that this trend is largely driven by younger adults, with around 14% of 18 to 24-year-olds reporting regular vaping despite not having previously smoked. However, among the overall adult population, the rate of vaping has plateaued since early 2023.
Analyzing survey data from 153,073 adults collected between 2016 and 2024, researchers classified 94,107 respondents as “never-regular-smokers.” Lead author Dr. Sarah Jackson from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care emphasized the public health implications of this trend. “The impact of this substantial rise in vaping will depend on whether these individuals would have otherwise smoked,” she noted. “While vaping is less harmful for those who might have turned to cigarettes, it poses greater risks for those who would not have smoked at all.”
Before the rise of disposable e-cigarettes, the proportion of never-regular-smokers who vaped was negligible, averaging just 0.5% from 2016 to 2020. This figure surged to 3.5% by April 2024, highlighting a notable shift in vaping behavior among this demographic. Over half of the new vapers—estimated at 588,000—were aged between 18 and 24.
The data also revealed a particularly striking increase among heavy drinkers, with 22% of this group reporting regular vaping. This contrasts sharply with the lower rates of 3.0% and 1.3% observed among low-risk drinkers or non-drinkers, suggesting that vaping is more prevalent among those who may otherwise consider smoking.
The study found that the majority of adult vapers who have never regularly smoked were daily users, with a ratio of 2.9% daily vapers compared to 0.6% who vaped non-daily as of April 2024. The profile of these vapers has evolved since the introduction of disposable devices, with younger individuals, more women, and those consuming alcohol at higher risk levels becoming more prevalent in this group.
Senior author Professor Jamie Brown from UCL warned that regulatory measures are essential to curb vaping among young individuals who have never smoked. “While it is crucial to minimize vaping among never-smokers, we must also ensure that we do not deter smokers from using e-cigarettes as a quitting aid,” he cautioned.
He proposed that rather than an outright ban on disposable e-cigarettes, which the UK Government is considering, stricter regulations on product design, packaging, and marketing could be more effective. “The fact that overall vaping rates have stabilized may provide policymakers with the confidence to implement these measures while evaluating their effectiveness.”
For more information, refer to the study, “Vaping among adults in England who have never regularly smoked: a population-based study, 2016-2024,” available in The Lancet Public Health.
