Rise of E-Cigarette Usage Among Young Adults in the UK

According to a report by the Daily Mail on May 23, a study released by University College London (UCL) has revealed that the presence of e-cigarettes has led to a threefold increase in the number of 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK using e-cigarettes over a period of two years.

A study funded by the Cancer Research UK investigated the e-cigarette and smoking data of 132,252 individuals in England from July 2016 to May 2023. The research found that as of June 2021, the number of smokers and e-cigarette users across all age groups in the UK has remained stable or decreased.

However, the use of e-cigarettes has been on the rise across all age groups since disposable e-cigarettes became popular, especially among young people aged 18 to 24.

The report highlights that the proportion of young people using e-cigarettes has tripled during this period, increasing from 9% in May 2021 to 29% in May 2023. The smoking rate in this age group decreased from 25% to 21%, but overall nicotine usage rate has risen from 28% to 35%.

The percentage of people over 45 years old using e-cigarettes has increased from 5% to 6%, while the rate of smoking has also increased from 12% to 14%. The most significant growth in e-cigarette use is among those who have never smoked before, with the percentage increasing from 2% to 9% in the 18 to 24-year-old age group.

After the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes in 2021, the likelihood of individuals aged 18 to 24 who claim to use e-cigarettes increased by 99% annually, while this percentage was 39% for those aged 25 to 44, and 23% for those aged 45 and older.

A research team has concluded that the historic decline in nicotine usage in the UK has been reversed since the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes began. Nicotine usage is now on the rise, primarily due to a significant increase in the number of young people using e-cigarettes.

The main author of the study, Harry Tattan-Birch, a Ph.D. student at University College London, stated：

Urgent action is needed to curb the rising use of disposable e-cigarettes among those who would have otherwise entirely avoided nicotine. This may include implementing a consumption tax, restricting packaging, or placing e-cigarettes behind store counters. If smoking rates decline more rapidly, the rapid growth in e-cigarette use will be less concerning.

Sarah Jackson, a senior author from University College London, also expressed:

While action is needed to address the increasing trend of e-cigarette use among young people who may not have otherwise used nicotine, policies should avoid suggesting that e-cigarettes are a worse alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes may not be risk-free, but smoking is particularly deadly. Equally important, policies aimed at reducing the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people should not unintentionally reduce their effectiveness in helping people quit smoking. Measures focused on the appearance, packaging, and marketing of e-cigarette products rather than their flavors and nicotine content may be the most effective way to strike this balance.