Vaping

About e-cigarettes and vapes

The terms e-cigarettes and vapes mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably, but young people are more familiar with the term vapes and vaping.

Vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and harmful to health. Therefore, those under the age of 18 and those who don’t smoke are not recommended to use them and should be actively discouraged from doing so.

The minimum age of sale for e-cigarettes or vapes is 18 and it is illegal to sell vapes or nicotine containing e-liquid to under 18s or to purchase them on behalf of under 18s. The use of vapes in schools should be treated in the same way as tobacco or other prohibited substances.

How many young people actually vape?

Findings from the 2026 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey on vaping among 11–17-year-olds in Great Britain found that 19% of 11–17-year-olds have tried vaping. This equates to around 1.1 million young people. Additionally, 6% currently vape, this equates to around 370,000 young people. Whilst rates of those who have tried and currently vape have risen since 2020, current rates have been at a similar level since 2023.

The same survey showed that the main awareness of vape promotion was seeing the products in shops (50%), advertised outside of shops (47%) and online (29%).

Both national and local data indicate that despite age of sale restrictions applying to vapes, many young people find it easy to purchase them from local shops. Many young people also reported that they were given their first vape. For most, they did not experience overt peer pressure to try the vape, but report that vapes and e-liquids tend to be shared freely amongst peers and friends leading to the sense that vaping is a social norm. This perception is strengthened through regular observation of friends and peers vaping at school, in social settings and on public transport.

Importantly, many young people use vaping to cope with stress and to support their mental health. Whilst nicotine provides an immediate sense of relaxation, this is short lived (around 20 mins). When nicotine levels drop, people experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings which can make people to feel irritable, anxious and depressed. Therefore, vaping is unlikely to be linked with short or long term improved mental health.

Despite the perceived normalisation of youth vaping, it is important to highlight that most young people don’t vape. Schools can play a vital role in de-normalising vaping by sharing information about the harms of vaping, highlighting that the majority of young people don’t vape and having robust policies and procedures in place to deal with vaping at school.

Health impact

Unlike cigarettes and tobacco, vapes don’t produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful substances in tobacco smoke. They also exposure users to fewer toxins than cigarette smoking. However, vapes are not risk free.

Evidence shows that in the short to medium term vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking, this is why adults who smoke are encouraged to use vapes to quit smoking. We don’t yet have evidence about the long-term effects of vaping.

Short term impacts of vaping can include headaches, coughing, dizziness, and sore throats.

Key vaping messages for young people

Vaping is a way for adults to stop smoking – not something for non-smokers, especially children and young people to try
Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking but that does not mean it is harmless
In the UK it is against the law to sell nicotine vaping products to under-18s or for adults to buy them on their behalf
Vaping exposes users to some toxins and we don’t yet know what the risks might be in the longer term
Some vapes contain nicotine, an addictive substance which can be hard to stop using once you’ve started
Nicotine may be more risky for young people than for adults, as evidence suggests that in adolescence the brain is more sensitive to its effects.
Some disposable vapes on sale are illegal and do not meet UK quality and safety regulations.

Environmental impact

Single use vapes include batteries and plastics that are difficult to recycle which means they end up in landfill sites which release chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. It’s estimated that around 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK (that’s enough to cover 22 football pitches). As a result, the UK Government has passed legislation to ban the sale and supply of single use vapes in England. This will come into force on 1 June 2025.

Government crackdown on single-use vapes - GOV.UK

Resources for teachers, schools and parents and carers

The messages about vapes can be confusing. Smokefree Sheffield and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) have developed a range of resources including posters, an animation, guides for parents and carers and a classroom presentation to help children and young people understand the facts about vapes.

Vaping: The Facts | Smokefree Sheffield

References

Vaping in England: 2020 evidence update summary (2020) - Vaping in England: 2020 evidence update summary - GOV.UK

Trading Standards Connect Webpage - Tobacco and vapes - Trading Standards Service and - Tobacco and vapes - Trading Standards Service

Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among young people in Great Britain survey 2026 – ASH - Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among young people in Great Britain - ASH

Nicotine vaping in England: evidence update main findings (2022) - Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings - GOV.UK

Vaping: The Facts (2023) - Vaping: The Facts | Campaigns