Latest ONS statistics show
that youth vaping remains low and has declined slightly since
2016
New figures from
the Office for National Statistics have shown that youth
experimentation and regular use of vaping devices is still low
and has in face declined slightly since 2016.
Key figures show that:
-
regular use of vaping products by young people
remains at less than 2% - there is no evidence of an increase
and the stats actually show a slight decrease since 2016. These
regular users are also overwhelming young people who also
report that they regularly smoke.
-
Experimentation with vaping products by young
people remains at the same level as in 2016.
-
Less than 1% of young people who have never smoked
have tried vaping products.
These new statistics are a
direct challenge to concerns that youth experimentation with
vaping is on the rise in the UK and that comparisons with the
very different US market are unfounded.
Commenting on the statistics,
Ben Timberley, Board Member of the UK Vaping Industry Association
and Head of Marketing at Zeus Juice said:
“We welcome this latest report
from the NHS and its confirmation that both the regular use and
experimentation of vaping amongst young people remains low since
2016. These statistics just add to the growing body of
evidence which shows that the responsible steps being taken by
the vaping industry to prevent access to products by young people
are having an effect. Our own Association code of conduct insists
on robust online age verification methods, a challenge 25 policy
in-store and sets a clear expectation that products are only to
be marketed towards adult smokers, vapers and consumers of other
nicotine products. UKVIA members will continue to work together
to ensure high standards of youth access prevention across the
industry whilst helping the remaining seven million smokers in
the UK make that switch to a far less harmful
product”.
