The United Kingdom is on the cusp of a significant shift in public health, as vaping is set to overtake smoking for the first time. This development is aligned with the country’s strong endorsement of tobacco harm reduction, which has seen the introduction of safer nicotine products (SNPs) as a viable alternative to traditional smoking. The transition is detailed in a recent Briefing Paper by the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), which highlights the UK’s progress towards becoming a smokefree nation.

Over the past two decades, the UK has witnessed a dramatic reduction in smoking rates, with the number of smokers falling by nearly 50%. In 2005, 23.7% of adults smoked, a figure that has decreased to 12.9% by 2022. This decline is attributed to the increasing availability and acceptance of vaping as a safer alternative to smoking.

The Rise of Vaping

Projections based on data from the Office for National Statistics and Action on Smoking and Health suggest that by 2025, the number of adults vaping will surpass those smoking. Currently, 11% of adults vape, and this number is expected to continue rising. This trend reflects a broader consumer shift towards SNPs, driven by the perception of vaping as a less harmful way to consume nicotine.

The UK government has played a pivotal role in promoting vaping as a tobacco harm reduction strategy. Successive governments have endorsed vaping through pragmatic policy decisions, backed by robust evidence of its potential to reduce smoking rates. Notably, the government introduced the ‘swap to stop’ campaign in 2023, which aimed to transition one million smokers to vaping by providing vape starter kits and behavioural support.

Historical Context and Research

The UK’s commitment to tobacco harm reduction is rooted in its history of significant public health research. The link between smoking and cancer was first established in the UK in 1950, leading to the Royal College of Physicians’ influential report “Smoking and Health.” In 2015, Public Health England published an evidence review concluding that nicotine vapes were 95% less harmful than smoking. This report has become a cornerstone in the global understanding of vaping’s relative safety.

With the anticipated overtaking of smoking by vaping, the UK exemplifies the power of harm reduction strategies in public health. The country’s approach demonstrates how informed policy-making, coupled with scientific research, can influence consumer behaviour and reduce the prevalence of smoking. The focus remains on decreasing the use of combustible cigarettes, thereby advancing towards the ambitious 2030 smokefree target.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The government must continue to address concerns about youth vaping and ensure that SNPs are accessible only to adults. Additionally, ongoing research is needed to fully understand the long-term health implications of vaping and to refine harm reduction strategies further.

Source: GSTHR