Understand
Why people who have never smoked are getting hooked on vaping
Overview
Recent ONS survey data shows that more than one million people in the UK who have never smoked now vape, a growing trend driven by social anxiety, habit, stress, and prominent marketing featuring bright colours and sweet flavours.
Key points
- Over one million people in the UK have never smoked cigarettes but now vape, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
- Many non-smokers take up vaping due to social anxiety, stress, the physical hand-to-mouth action, and psychological dependence.
- Experts note that heavy marketing, bright colours, and sweet flavours have fueled a misconception that vapes are safe and non-addictive.
- While vaping is less harmful than smoking, nicotine is highly addictive, and the long-term health effects remain unclear according to the NHS.
- The UK government is aiming to cut smoking rates and reduce the appeal of vaping to young people through potential new packaging and marketing restrictions.