Young Adults Choose Vapes Over Cigarettes
Recent reports reveal a significant shift in tobacco and nicotine usage patterns among younger age groups in both the UK and the US. As traditional smoking continues to decline, vaping is emerging as a popular alternative among youth, though its usage patterns remain dynamic.
Smoking Rates in the UK Continue to Decline
Smoking in the UK has seen a steady decline since 2011, dropping from 20% to 12% in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This trend is particularly pronounced among young adults.
- - In the 18-24 age group, 9.8% report smoking, compared to 14% of those aged 25-35.
- - Among older adults aged 65 and above, the smoking rate is even lower, at 8.9%.
Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Haypp, highlights this generational shift:
Rise in Vaping as Smoking Declines
In tandem with the decline in smoking, vaping usage in the UK is on the rise. The ONS reports that 5.9% of the population now vapes, with a higher proportion (around 9%) in the 18-24 age bracket.
The trend is mirrored in the US, where a study by Professor Brad Rodu of the University of Louisville underscores the rapid decline in smoking among youth, driven by vaping’s popularity. According to data from the CDC:
- - Daily smoking among high school students in the US fell from 15.7% in 2011 to under 1% in 2023.
- - Among young adults aged 18-20, the smoking rate dropped by 86% over the same period.
Professor Rodu notes that the periods of sharp increases in vaping in the US (2015, 2018, and 2019) coincided with the fastest recorded declines in cigarette use.
Fluctuating Use of E-Cigarettes
Optimism for Continued Decline in Smoking in the UK
Both Lindblad and Rodu remain optimistic about the future. Lindblad draws parallels with Sweden, where smoking rates are as low as 5.6%, attributing the decline to smoke-free alternatives.
“We see that tobacco-free products attract smokers, leading to fewer people starting to smoke and more quitting or switching,” says Lindblad.
Similarly, Rodu points to the increase in young people identifying as former smokers in the US, suggesting that vaping has contributed to higher quitting rates.
"We also see that the proportion of youth reporting themselves as former smokers has increased. This suggests that the presence of e-cigarettes does not lead to more smokers—on the contrary, it leads to more young people quitting smoking. If the proportion of those quitting continues to rise and the number of smokers continues to fall, this could result in little or no mortality being attributed to smoking in these groups in the future,” concludes Rodu.
Shifting Attitudes and the Role of Alternatives
As youth and young adults continue to lead the charge toward smoke-free lifestyles, the focus must remain on education, innovation, and supportive regulations to sustain these positive trends.
