Vaping has overtaken smoking in popularity among Britons for the first time, according to official figures.
Last year, 10% of over-16s used e-cigarettes regularly, compared to 9% who still smoke cigarettes.
While vape use increased last year compared to 2023, the “long-term trend” of abandoning cigarettes continued. office For national statistics.
E-cigarette use increased most among those aged 35 to 49, while it decreased among those under 25.
Experts decided to make the switch because they believed vapes were cheaper and less harmful.
Studies have shown that e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking. Some people try e-cigarettes out of curiosity and then develop the habit.
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The ongoing crackdown on cigarettes and vapes continues, with the minimum age to purchase cigarettes being raised every year, making it impossible for anyone born after 2008 to buy cigarettes.
Disposable vapes have been made illegal and the law could be further tightened to eliminate fruity flavors and colorful packaging.
Hazel Cheeseman from campaign group Action on smoking and Health said it was important that more people now consume nicotine through vapes than through cigarettes.
she grew up vaping It “almost certainly” contributed to reducing smoking rates.
She added: “As concerns remain about the use of e-cigarettes by non-smokers and young people, the mandate to further regulate e-cigarettes is a great opportunity to strengthen their role as a smoking cessation tool.”
Professor John Britton of the University of Nottingham claimed that the switch to vapes would “prevent millions of premature deaths in the coming decades”.
The NHS estimates that smoking causes around 75,000 deaths a year.
4 terrible things that can happen to your body after vaping
VAPES were once hailed as a miracle device to help adults quit smoking.
But while e-cigarettes are not as dangerous as cigarettes, experts have warned that they may not be so harmless after all.
Here are five ways vaping can damage young users’ bodies:
1. It may slow down brain development
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaping nicotine can have permanent effects on brain development in people under 25 years of age.
Nicotine consumed during adolescence can harm areas of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control, as well as increase the risk of addiction.
2. Can lead to cavities
Dr Michael Heffernan, a dentist at Wessex Dental Specialist Care, said most vapes contained dangerous chemicals that could harm teeth and cause cavities.
Breathing in the device may cause dry mouth and create an environment where harmful bacteria can grow.
3. It can harm your heart health
However, some chemicals found in vapes can harm the heart, and the American Heart Association (AHA) says vaping is “just as harmful to the body’s cardiovascular system as smoking.”
4. Can cause lung disease
Pediatric respiratory consultant Dr Mike McKean said he had seen reports of people developing lung disease linked to vaping, and vaping from an early age could cause breathing difficulties in children.
US researchers also found that young people who vape were at a higher risk of bronchitis, airway inflammation and difficulty breathing.
Learn more about how vaping can affect your health here.
