UK's E-cigarette Use Reaches Record High in 2022

Sep.01.2022
The proportion of UK adults using e-cigarettes has increased to its highest ever at 8.3%, according to ASH's latest report.

According to the latest report by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the adult population who use e-cigarettes this year has risen to 8.3%, the highest ever recorded percentage, reaching 4.3 million people in the UK.

 

Key findings include a larger proportion of former smokers compared to never smokers among e-cigarette users. Currently, the majority of e-cigarette users are former smokers (57%). This proportion peaked at 64% in 2021. Only 1.3% of never smokers are currently e-cigarette users, accounting for 8.1% of all e-cigarette users.

 

The report emphasizes that the proportion of adult smokers who have never tried e-cigarettes continues to slowly decline, reaching 28% by 2022. Currently, the proportion of smokers using e-cigarettes increased from 17% in 2021 to 22% in 2022.

 

As in previous years, the main reason given by former smokers for using electronic cigarettes is to help them quit smoking (29%). The next most common reason is to prevent relapse (19%), followed by enjoying the experience (14%) and saving money (11%).

 

The main reasons given by current smokers for using electronic cigarettes are to reduce smoking (17%), save money (16%), attempt to help them quit smoking (14%), and prevent relapse (13%).

 

The most common type of e-cigarette device is still the refillable tank system, with 65% of e-cigarette users reporting it as their primary device.

 

The primary types of devices used by 17% and 15% of e-cigarette users are those that have replaceable cartridges and those that are disposable, respectively.

 

However, the use of disposable e-cigarettes has increased, particularly among young people.

 

By 2022, almost half of e-cigarette users (48%) will use disposables as their primary type, which is significantly higher than the 2.8% reported in 2021.

 

Among those who have tried e-cigarettes and used vape pods, JUUL has become the most popular brand since 2021, with 19% of users. Following closely are Logic (17%), Vuse (16%), Vype (16%), and blu (14%).

 

In 2022, 94% of smokers and 92% of the general population have heard of e-cigarettes or vaping. This is a stark contrast from 2012 when only 49% of adults answered the same question knowing about them.

 

The number of electronic cigarette users has grown from around 700,000 in 2012 to 4.3 million in 2022.

 

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