Quarter of 11 to 15-years-old have tried vaping, figures show

A 4th of 11 to 15-year-olds successful England person tried vaping, caller NHS figures show, with astir 1 successful 10 utilizing e-cigarettes regularly.

Charities person called for the Government to bring guardant the Tobacco and Vapes Bill arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to “more efficaciously regulate” e-cigarette use.

The latest Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People successful England study showed 25% of 11 to 15-year-olds had tried vaping successful 2023, up from 22% successful 2021.

Some 9% said they vape frequently, which is unchanged from the erstwhile report.

Of the proportionality of youngsters who had tried e-cigarettes successful 2023, immoderate 89% had ne'er regularly smoked tobacco.

Some 6% besides reported vaping earlier trying cigarettes, portion 5% said they had smoked cigarettes earlier trying a vape.

Matt Fagg, NHS England’s manager for prevention and semipermanent conditions, said: “It is incredibly concerning that astir 1 successful 10 young radical regularly oregon occasionally vape – it means they are astatine hazard of becoming hooked connected 1 of the world’s astir addictive substances, and that is earlier we see the longer-term impacts which are inactive unclear.”

Health curate Andrew Gwynne besides described the figures arsenic “worrying”.

He added: “The wellness proposal is wide that children and big non-smokers should ne'er vape, truthful it is unacceptable to spot unscrupulous retailers selling them astatine children.”

Cigarette usage amongst 11 to 15-year-olds successful 2023 was akin to 2021, with 11% saying they had tried cigarettes, down somewhat from 12%.

Some 3% of the property radical reported being existent smokers past year, portion 1% were regular smokers, which were some unchanged from 2021.

Public wellness foundation Action connected Smoking and Health (Ash) urged the Government to bring guardant the Tobacco and Vapes Bill “as soon arsenic possible”.

The projected authorities sought to forestall anyone calved aft January 1 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the property astatine which baccy tin beryllium bought.

Today’s information should beryllium the impetus the Government needs to bring guardant authorities for archetypal reading

Hazel Cheeseman, Action connected Smoking and Health

It besides aimed to enforce restrictions connected the merchantability and selling of vapes to children.

The Bill was shelved arsenic a effect of the wide predetermination being called but was revived by the Labour Government successful July.

Hazel Cheeseman, main enforcement of Ash, said: “It is captious the Government bring guardant the Tobacco and Vapes Bill arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to accelerate advancement towards a smoke-free procreation and much efficaciously modulate vaping.

“While smoking rates person fallen dramatically among 11-15-year-olds implicit the past fewer decades, this information bespeak advancement is stalling and amusement a peculiarly worrying leap successful 11-year-olds reporting ever smoking oregon presently smoking.

“At the aforesaid clip younker vaping remains excessively precocious and is improbable to autumn without further regulations to bounds the entreaty of vapes to teens.

“Today’s information should beryllium the impetus the Government needs to bring guardant authorities for archetypal reading.”

Mr Gwynne added: “Through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we volition halt vapes from being deliberately branded to people children, protecting aboriginal generations from becoming hooked connected nicotine and ensuring the adjacent procreation grows up fume and vape free.”