By Siba Jackson, news reporter
Thursday 18 May 2023 05:53, UK
The number of children trying out vaping has risen by 50% in the past year as campaigners call for a crackdown to "stem the tide of child vape experimentation".
Experimental vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain increased from 7.7% to 11.6%, the data showed.
While the number of children who admitted trying vaping once or twice has roughly doubled in the past nine years, from 5.6% in 2014 to 11.6% this year.
The figures are based on a survey of 2,656 young people conducted in March and April this year by YouGov for charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
They will be submitted as part of the government's call for evidence on measures to lower the number of children who vape - but also ensure e-cigarettes can be accessed by adults who want to stop smoking.
When asked why they vape, 40% of children surveyed said they just wanted to give them a try, with 19% admitting they wanted to join in with others and a further 14% saying they liked the flavours.
Although it is illegal to sell vaping devices to people under 18, there are numerous social media posts from teenagers discussing flavours such as pink lemonade, strawberry, banana and mango.
It follows earlier warnings from experts that the new generation of disposable vapes - which are known as "puff bars" and contain nicotine - have flooded the market.
The use of disposable devices among children who vape has soared from just 7.7% in 2021 to 69% in 2023, the research found.
They are most commonly bought at corner shops, followed by petrol stations and online.
'Child-friendly promotion' of cheap and attractive products
An increased number of children said they were aware of vaping promotions in shops, rising from 37% last year to 53% this year.
They also noted adverts for vaping on buses and social media platforms, with almost half of those surveyed citing promotions on TikTok.
Some 29% saw them on YouTube, 28% on Instagram and 24% on Facebook, the research found.
ASH chief executive Deborah Arnott said: "We need to stem the tide of child vape experimentation and the government's investment in a crackdown on illegal underage sales of vapes is a vital first step.
"But enforcement on its own won't do the trick without tougher regulation to address the child-friendly promotion of these cheap and attractive products.
"The evidence is clear, government needs to take strong action to prevent the marketing of vapes to children."
Dad Geoff Worsley, from Abergele, North Wales, launched a petition entitled Stop Children Vaping - More Regulation Now, which has received more than 100,000 signatures.
He is calling on the government to introduce tougher regulation immediately.
"Parents like me up and down the country are calling on the government to act to protect our children from vaping as well as smoking," Mr Worsley said.
"More funding for enforcement is a good first step, but it's not enough.
"Vaping is safer and better for smokers than smoking, but it shouldn't be promoted to children.
"Regulations are needed to prevent vapes being openly sold in prominent positions within shops, in brightly coloured packaging and sweet names attractive to kids."
Read more: Government unveils plans for 'illegal vape enforcement squads'More than four million Brits use e-cigarettes - but 350,000 have never smoked
This is a limited version of the story so unfortunately this content is not available. Open the full version
Misconceptions over vaping
ASH said fears that vaping is leading to a new generation addicted to nicotine are not justified by the current evidence.
The data showed most of the 20.5% of young people who have ever vaped have only tried it once or twice, the charity said.
Some vape less than once a week and others no longer do so.
This is a limited version of the story so unfortunately this content is not available. Open the full version
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Just 2% of children surveyed said they vape daily.
Some 63% who tried vaping once or twice had never smoked.
But 71% of those who currently vape have tried smoking.
Professor of tobacco addictions at Kings College London, Ann McNeill, said a "well-funded communications campaign" was necessary to address "growing misconceptions" over vaping.
"These misconceptions are likely to encourage children to believe that they might as well smoke as vape, and discourage adults who smoke but have never vaped from taking up the government's 'swap to stop' offer (using vapes instead of cigarettes)," she said.
The new data showed no significant change since last year in the number of children smoking - which dropped from 4.8% to 3.6% in 2023.
The children who say they currently vape rose slightly from 6.9% last year to 7.6% this year.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "It's already illegal to sell vapes to children and we are exploring further ways to tackle youth vaping through our newly launched call for evidence, which will look at the appearance and characteristics of vapes, the marketing and promotion of vapes, and the role of social media."
Read the original:
Number of children trying vaping rises 50% in a year in 'tide of experimentation' - Sky News
- Vaping is still cool in college and beyond for young adults : Shots - Health News - NPR - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Parents warned over potentially fatal effects of spice vaping - The Irish News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Study: Vaping Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Failure - Health.com - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Vape registries hurt local retailers, are bad health policy | Commentary - The Post and Courier - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Students caught for first-time vaping offences could face up to S$2,000 fine, according to MOH and HSA - Yahoo Singapore News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- OSF adds more STEAM to American Heart Association's anti-vaping/smoking and nutrition efforts - Newsroom OSF HealthCare - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Quitting Vaping Doesn't Need to be Hard. The SCPC is Here to Help. - Wyo4News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking cigarettes can destroy lungs, but shocking new study reveals why vaping can harm the heart - Fox News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Lawrenceburg HS to Host Parents Against Vaping Event This Thursday - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Parents urged to talk to young people about vaping Spice dangers | HSC Public Health Agency - Public Health Agency - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking/vaping is now outlawed at most of Twin Hills Park - Crestview News Bulletin - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Events - Free Program to Quit Smoking or Vaping - Brookdale Community College Newsroom - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Vaping trend among Welsh youth focus of anti-vaping campaign - Yahoo News UK - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Demand for new youth anti-vaping program surges as Parliament considers world leading vaping reforms - Department of Health - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Experts warn of youth lung injury crisis due to vaping - pna.gov.ph - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- EXCLUSIVE: Next Big Thing In Vaping? New Leader Has Clues - Benzinga - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Most smokers wrongly believe vaping is at least as harmful as smoking, says study - Medical Xpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Proposed bill strives to clarify legal vaping products in Georgia - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Smoking compared with vaping what both do to your body from the first puff - The Telegraph - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Local teen shares story after nearly dying due to vaping - KOKI FOX 23 TULSA - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping can increase susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV-2 - UC Riverside - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- As youth vaping skyrockets, SC bill aims to crack down on sales of illegal e-cigs - News From The States - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Whether anti-vaping activists like it or not, vaping helps smokers quit - OCRegister - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Adults in England wrongly think vaping is worse than smoking - study - Euronews - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Southernminn.com - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Young people lead vaping and use of some illicit drugs soar - Cosmos - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Fargo Cass Public Health taking action after growing concerns with teen vaping - INFORUM - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- ATS The Bridge tells Rotarians of youth vaping risks - Cleveland Daily Banner - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Kids are doing this everywhere: New Zealand wrestles with rise of primary school vaping - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Blackchronicle - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Could messages from social media influencers stop young people vaping? A look at the government's new campaign - The Conversation - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping is finally on a downward trend in schools - Lootpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban? - BBC - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- The Canadian Vaping Association calls on the federal government to maintain science-based vaping regulations - GlobeNewswire - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Doctor shares what happens to your body if you stop vaping - starting after just 30 minutes - The Mirror - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- New study adds more smoke to the vaping debate - Cosmos - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Disposable vapes to be banned in Scotland under new legislation - Yahoo News UK - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Iowa Is One Of The States Working Hardest To Quit Vaping - B100 - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Single-use vapes to be banned in Scotland next year - The Times - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- SGF advises caution on illicit trade after disposable vape ban - Talking Retail - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Officials warning teens of the dangers vaping following incident at Smiths Station High School - WTVM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Spice: the 'zombie drug' being found in some vape liquids - The Conversation - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Siouxland District Health offers new vaping prevention curriculum for youth - Sioux City Journal - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Protecting Youth From the Dangers of Vaping: What's Been Done, What's Needed - Pulmonology Advisor - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping's negative impact on fertility - FOX 26 Houston - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Wake Forest families address vaping and smoking risks involving children - CBS17.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- When Doctors Are the Source of Public Health Misinformation - Reason - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Local public health educator discusses dangers of vaping - Standard-Democrat - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Ask Amy: Relatives worry about teen vaping at home - The Denver Post - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Local campaign brings awareness to the dangers of youth vaping - Boise State Public Radio - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Officials warning teens of the dangers vaping - Columbus - WTVM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The World's Quickest Car And Vaping Have A Lot In Common - Motor1 - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Kentucky House committee passes bill aimed at curbing teenage vaping in public schools - WDRB - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Cloquet students share more about their culture in anti-vaping campaign called Don't Blow It - WDIO - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Shah: Federal menthol flavoring ban could help reduce teen vaping & tobacco use - Long Island Business News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Schumer and anti-vaping zealots should stand down - Washington Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Miracle recovery: Teen beats vaping-induced coma, returns to the court - Examiner Enterprise - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Southern 7 Health Department seeing increase in teen vaping - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Abilene ISD reports surge in on-campus vaping, 150+ THC incidents - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- DHS awards $830k to Wisconsin organizations to address youth vaping - WMTV - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Commentary: Flavored tobacco is fueling youth addition - Roanoke Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping's Hidden Hazard: Study Questions Safety of Nicotine Inhalation - SciTechDaily - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- NJ town will have cops crack down on youth vaping - New Jersey 101.5 FM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Investigation finds over half of UK university students addicted to vaping - news-daily.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The Blinc Group Unveils Simpl Too: Pioneering the Future of Eco-Responsible Vaping - GlobeNewswire - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping is good for people who want to quit smoking according to new research - Business Insider Africa - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping is a young person phenomenon in Australia - Pursuit - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The Influence of Juul Labs on Government Policy and Public Health | Health News - Medriva - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Settlement Money Lands on Anti-Vaping Efforts 715Newsroom.com - 715Newsroom.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- #studentviews: How could policy reduce the harm caused by disposable vapes? - Economics Observatory - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Flavored tobacco ban for Multnomah County set to start on Jan. 1 Oregon Capital Chronicle - Oregon Capital Chronicle - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Taking a stand against smoking and vaping | Education | leader-call.com - leader-call.com - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Hillsborough leaders consider ordinance to stop vaping in schools - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Want to keep Gen Z off vaping? Teach them about the industry's marketing tactics, study says - Medical Xpress - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Urgent need for action as vaping spreads through social media - News-Medical.Net - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Ireland Halts Vape Tax Over Cessation Concerns - Tobacco Reporter - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Addicted to vaping? Experts warn that long-term use of e-cigars may lead to drug abuse - ETHealthWorld - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Government bans sale of vaping products to under 18s - RTE.ie - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Guest view: Montana Principals: Vaping impacting our kids and schools - The Montana Standard - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- E-cigarette makers dodged U.S. customs and taxes after China's ban on vaping flavors - Lewiston Morning Tribune - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]