Changes in vaping trends since the announcement of an impending ban on disposable vapes: A population study in Great Britain
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background/Aim There has been a rapid rise in vaping prevalence among youth and young adults in Great Britain since disposable vapes started to become popular in 2021. In January 2024, the government announced plans to introduce a number of new vaping policies, including a ban on disposable vapes, to tackle youth vaping. This study examined whether trends in current vaping and use of disposable vapes have changed since this announcement. Design, setting, and participants Segmented regression analysis of data collected monthly between January 2022 and November 2024 as part of the Smoking Toolkit Study; a representative household survey in Great Britain. We ran generalised additive models using data from all participants aged ≥16y ( n =83,764; ‘adults’) and from a subset aged 16-24y ( n =8,846; ‘young adults’). Main outcome measures Changes in trends in (i) the prevalence of current vaping and (ii) the proportion of vapers mainly using disposable devices. Results Before January 2024, vaping prevalence was increasing by 24.5% per year (RR trend =1.245 [95%CI 1.193-1.299]) and use of disposable vapes was increasing by 18.0% per year (RR trend =1.180 [95%CI 1.106-1.258]). These trends changed after the new policy measures were announced (RR Δtrend =0.718 [0.623-0.827] and RR Δtrend =0.558 [0.460-0.677], respectively). Instead of increasing, there was an uncertain decrease in vaping prevalence from 13.7% [12.7-14.7%] in January 2024 to 12.4% [11.4-13.6%] in November 2024) and a substantial decline in the proportion of vapers mainly using disposables from 43.7% [40.3-47.3%] to 30.8% [27.6-34.4%]. Similar changes were observed among young adults (vaping prevalence: RR Δtrend =0.647 [0.495-0.845]; use of disposable vapes: RR Δtrend =0.526 [0.400-0.693]), with an uncertain decline in vaping prevalence from 27.7% [24.5-31.3%] to 23.6% [20.2-27.6%] between January and November 2024 and the proportion of vapers mainly using disposables falling from 63.4% [59.0-68.2%] to 37.8% [32.3-44.2%]. Conclusions Following the announcement of an impending ban on disposable vapes and other potential vaping policies, recent increases in vaping prevalence in Great Britain stalled – or may have even reversed – including among young adults. In addition, there was a shift away from using disposable vapes, with people increasingly opting to use devices that can be refilled and recharged.
Source: Addiction
DOI: 10.1111/add.70057
Institution: University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,600
Funders: Pfizer, Scottish Government, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, Public Health Agency, Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division, UK Prevention Research Partnership
OpenAlex ID: W4409451965