One Million Non-Smoking Adults in UK Now Vaping, Exceeding Smokers for Second Year

New statistics indicate a significant shift in nicotine consumption habits across the UK, with 1.1 million adults who have no prior history of smoking now engaging in vaping. This demographic represents 2.8% of the adult population.

Overall, the prevalence of vaping among adults aged 16 and over has now outstripped smoking for the second year running. Approximately 4.7 million adults, or 9.9% of the population, currently vape, while 3.7 million (7.6%) smoke traditional cigarettes. These figures highlight a continuing trend away from combustible tobacco, though the uptake among non-smokers raises public health questions.

The data further details that 6.1% of adults are classified as 'ex-smokers who vape', translating to 2.9 million individuals. Meanwhile, 1.1 million (2.4%) are 'dual users' who both smoke and vape. The consistent rise in vaping among non-smokers challenges narratives that exclusively frame e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool for existing smokers, prompting closer scrutiny of marketing and accessibility.