In the years between 2018-2023 the use of e-cigarettes has risen over 36%, while store bought cigarettes consumption has reduced over 16% – showing that public health in Britain is seeing us give up smoking in all forms.
A recent study by YouGov shows what kind of nicotine products Brits used in 2018 compared to today. Flavours have been key to Brits giving up smoking harmful tobacco products, including hand-rolled cigarettes, store bought cigarettes, and cigars.
What is the trend in e-cigarette use by age range?
Over the past 5 years vaping among 18 to 29 year old adults has grown by almost 74% and around 47% for those aged between 30 to 50 years old. Over 50’s use of e-cigarettes has only grown a modest 5.2%.
Those who are between 18 to 29 now total 12.3%, having increased from 7.1% in 2018. In the 30 to 50 range usage has increased from 11.3% to 16.6%. While Over 50’s has increased merely between 6.5% to 6.8%. Overall across all age ranges e-cigarette, or vaping, has increased from 8.5% to 11.6%.
What has driven this increase in use of e-cigarettes?
YouGov asked users why these alternative nicotine products were used. The main reasons given were that they are cheaper (54.9%), helping smokers switch, and healthier (40.3%). Another key factor was users prefer the way they taste, increasing from 23% of users to 29.5%, as well as having more flavours and variety (15.9% to 20.9%). Less people are citing reasons that it is “more stylish/hip/trendy”, which now makes up only 2.6% of the sample tested when being asked what reasons users have for using alternative products.
What does this mean for Britain?
We are seeing less Brits smoke than there was 5 years ago, in each form. Yet improving flavours for better taste has been a key factor in the growth of its use. Smokers are being urged by the UK government to swap cigarettes for vapes, where it has a target of one million smokers being encouraged to opt for the healthier reduced risk dependency treatment pathway.
The ROARLABS Commitment
As a scientific lifestyle service brand, ROARLABS is committed to deliver dependency treatment pathways that emphasises a commitment to providing best-in-class flavours that are Made in the UK.
