Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has released new findings from a survey examining the vaping behaviour of 11-17 year olds in Britain. The data reveals that nearly one million children have tried vaping, highlighting significant trends and the urgent need for government intervention.
Youth Vaping Trends
Prevalence and Behavior
- Vaping Statistics: Approximately 18% of 11-17 year olds, equating to 980,000 children, have tried vaping. Of these, over half (53%) had only vaped once or twice, amounting to 520,000 children. Regular vaping is less common, with 3.0% vaping less than once a week and 4.2% more than once a week.
- Exposure to Promotion: Nearly 72% of youths reported exposure to vape promotion, primarily in shops (55%) and online (29%). This exposure has increased from previous years, raising concerns about the influence of advertising on young people.
Purchasing and Product Trends
- Underage Purchases: Despite laws prohibiting sales to under-18s, 48% of underage vapers reported buying vapes from shops. Disposable vapes remain popular among young users, although their prevalence has decreased from 69% to 54% as reusable variants gain popularity.
- Dependency Concerns: There is evidence suggesting increased dependency among young vapers compared to four years ago, with more reporting strong urges to vape. This trend underscores the need for stronger regulations to address the potential for increased dependency.
Call for Government Action
ASH emphasises the need for immediate government intervention to regulate the appeal, advertising, and promotion of vapes. The delay in passing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill hampers the government’s ability to protect young people from the risks associated with vaping.
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