Teenagers vaping more in UK than most of Europe as ministers prepare clampdown

Britain has one of the highest levels of teen vaping in Western Europe, research shows, as ministers prepare to clamp down on e-cigarettes.

An international study of 35 countries shows that rates of vaping between those aged 15 and 24 are among the highest in comparable nations.

The research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows 7 per cent of those in this age group make regular use of e-cigarettes - compared with 1 per cent of those in Spain.

In Western Europe, rates were only higher in France, at 8.5 per cent, and the Netherlands, at 8.9 per cent.

Separate research by Ash, the anti-smoking charity, last year found the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 currently vaping jumped from 4 per cent in 2020 to 7 per cent in 2022.

In 2013, just 3 per cent of children aged 11 to 15 had ever vaped, but this rose to 8 per cent in 2020 and 10 per cent in 2022.

It comes as ministers prepare to consult on a clamp down on vaping, to make it less appealing to children.

The Government is considering banning disposable flavoured vapes, with a review expected to examine the “appearance and characteristics” of vaping products currently on sale.

The review is also set to examine the way they are branded and advertised over social media, amid concerns products are being deliberately targeted at youngsters.

Many experts have raised concerns that many of the products appeal to young sensibilities, with flavours like sweets and fruits.

In a speech early next month Neil O Brien, the public health minister, is expected to ask experts how to best to protect children from highly addictive nicotine.

It will also include a formal reply to an independent review by Dr Javed Khan which looked into the Government’s goal to make England and Wales smoke-free by 2030.

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, on Thursday said the Department of Health and Social Care is exploring ways to tackle youth vaping in response to a question in the Commons.

‘Appalling’ marketing of vapes

Last month, England’s chief medical officer attacked the “appalling” marketing of vapes to children – saying it was clear some products are intended to appeal to under-age people.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty told MPs: “I think everyone agrees that marketing vaping, an addictive product, with, as you imply, unknown consequences for developing minds, to children is utterly unacceptable. Yet it is happening.

“There’s no doubt it’s happening because, although from a low base, the rates of vaping have doubled in the last couple of years among children. So that is an appalling situation.”

Experts said that children were being attracted to disposable e-cigarettes, in fruity flavours, being used by people on TikTok and Instagram.

While it is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, social media carries posts from teenagers showing the new vapes and discussing the flavours, which include pink lemonade and mango.

Over the past year, a new generation of disposable vapes known as “puff bars”, which contain nicotine, have come on to the market.

During the select committee, Dr Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham said vapes were “heavily marketed at children, which is developing into a whole generation of teenagers completely addicted to sucking little nicotine coloured pop things.”

The chief medical officer said e-cigarettes were a useful tool for adults trying to stop smoking.

But he questioned whether there is any need at all for flavoured and fruity e-cigarettes, amid growing concern that such products appeal to children.

‘Encouraging people to vape’

Sir Chris said far more must be done to prevent children vaping, adding: “Is it reasonable to have, in any case, flavours and colours that are clearly aimed at essentially encouraging people to vape who may well not be vaping at all?

“I think we need to be much more serious, in my view, that trying everything we can to reduce vaping in children, as well as smoking in children, is really important whilst trying what we can do to make sure that vaping is available for those for whom that is the route out of smoking.”

He added: “Disposable vapes – things like Elf Bar – are clearly the kinds of products which look as if they’re being marketed, in reality, at children.

“And I think we should look very seriously at these products for which the child market appears to be the principal market and say ‘why are we considering this to be a good thing to have?’.”

Last September, experts called for a crackdown on the sale of vapes to children and concluded little is known about the long-term impact of e-cigarettes on health.

The King’s College London study, commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities at the Department of Health, said it was clear that vaping is less harmful than cigarettes in the short to medium term and smokers should be encouraged to switch to vapes.

However, it said current research is not robust enough to make clear conclusions about how harmful vaping is in the longer term.