The article from the Mirror dated 29th September 2024 titled “Vape users say they’re ‘likely’ to revert to cigarettes when new ban comes into effect” contains a number of misleading points and misrepresents the broader context of vaping in the UK, especially when it comes to who uses vaping products and the potential impacts of a ban on disposable vapes. Let’s unpack these inaccuracies and confront them with data from the UK to offer a clearer understanding of the situation.
Misleading Representation of Vapers as Primarily Former Smokers
The article suggests that 85% of vapers are former smokers, implying that vaping is predominantly a tool for quitting smoking. While it’s true that many adult vapers are former smokers, this fails to acknowledge the growing use of vaping products by people who have never smoked, especially among young people. A 2023 study by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that, among 11-18 year-olds in the UK who currently vape, 77% had never been regular smokers. This highlights that the majority of young vapers were not smoking prior to starting vaping, which contradicts the article’s focus on vapers being primarily former smokers.
Additionally, while vaping can play a role in smoking cessation for some adults, it’s crucial to understand that the uptake of vaping, especially through flavoured disposables, is not confined to ex-smokers. Many new users are individuals who have never used combustible tobacco but are attracted to vaping due to factors like flavours and convenience.
The Appeal of Flavoured Vapes Among Non-Smokers
One significant issue the article glosses over is the role of flavoured vapes in attracting non-smokers, particularly younger demographics. Data from the UK consistently show that flavoured disposable vapes are very popular among young people who have never smoked. According to a 2023 survey by ASH, 85% of 11-17-year-olds who currently vape regularly use flavoured vapes, with sweet and fruity flavours being the most popular. This suggests that these flavours are a key driver of vaping initiation among non-smokers, especially younger users.
The article’s failure to address this trend is problematic because it ignores a major public health concern: the introduction of nicotine dependence among non-smokers through the appeal of flavoured disposables. If flavoured disposables are restricted, it is likely to reduce the number of non-smokers who begin vaping, especially among young people.
Will a Vaping Ban Drive Former Smokers Back to Cigarettes?
The article claims that a ban on single-use vapes could push former smokers back to smoking, but this is an exaggerated fear. While some vapers express concern that they might return to smoking if they lose access to vapes, studies from the UK show that this is not the typical outcome. Research from Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians has consistently shown that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, but there is little evidence to suggest that banning disposables would lead to widespread relapse into smoking.
In fact, when vaping regulations have been tightened in other regions, like Australia, the majority of vapers have either quit nicotine altogether or transitioned to other nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as nicotine patches, gum, or open-system vapes. A 2021 study in the UK found that fewer than 10% of former smokers who quit vaping reverted back to regular smoking. This means that fears of a mass return to smoking are likely overblown, and the availability of regulated alternatives (such as nicotine pouches or refillable vapes) can provide sufficient harm-reduction options for those trying to avoid relapse.
Hardened Smokers vs. Non-Smokers and Youth Vapers
The article heavily emphasises that disposable vapes are used mainly by former smokers, but UK data suggests a more nuanced picture. While some adult smokers do use disposable vapes as part of their quit journey, disposable vapes are disproportionately popular among younger, non-smoker demographics. ASH’s 2023 report found that disposable vapes accounted for 69% of current vapers aged 11-17, but much less among adult vapers who are more likely to use open-system vapes, which are better suited for long-term nicotine management and allow for customisation of nicotine levels.
This division between youth and adult usage is crucial because it demonstrates that banning disposable vapes would primarily affect younger, non-smokers who are drawn to these products because of their ease of use and flavours. Hardened smokers, on the other hand, are more likely to transition to other forms of vaping or NRTs if disposables are no longer available.
Impact of Flavour Bans on Non-Smokers
The idea that a ban on flavoured disposables would inevitably lead to an increase in smoking overlooks the broader public health benefits of restricting access to these products. In 2019, Public Health England and other UK health authorities expressed concerns about the rise of youth vaping, particularly as flavoured products were seen as a major attraction for non-smokers. By limiting access to flavours, particularly in single-use products, the UK could curb nicotine initiation among non-smokers without forcing former smokers back to cigarettes.
This aligns with findings from the U.S., where data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 85% of youth vapers use flavoured products, which are largely disposables. In both markets, the availability of flavoured disposables appears to be a significant factor in youth uptake, and limiting these products would likely reduce nicotine initiation among non-smokers without increasing smoking rates.
Likelihood of Vaping Leading to Smoking
The fear that banning disposable vapes will lead to an increase in smoking among former vapers is not backed by data from the UK. In fact, smoking rates in the UK have been on a steady decline, even as vaping rates have increased. Public Health England has repeatedly emphasised that vaping does not appear to be a significant gateway to smoking. A 2022 report by ASH showed that regular smoking rates among young people continue to fall, even though vaping has become more prevalent.
Most young people who try vaping do not become regular smokers. Instead, vaping often serves as an exit route from smoking for those who already smoke. The suggestion that vapers will automatically turn to cigarettes once disposables are banned is not supported by evidence, especially when safer alternatives like nicotine pouches or open-system vapes remain available.
Conclusion
The article presents a skewed view of the potential impacts of a disposable vape ban. While it is true that some former smokers fear they might revert to cigarettes, the data from the UK does not support the idea that the majority will. Instead, flavoured disposable vapes are predominantly used by younger, non-smokers, and these products’ appeal is largely tied to flavours that have little to do with smoking cessation. A targeted ban on flavoured disposables is more likely to curb youth nicotine use without causing a significant number of ex-smokers to relapse.