The briefing also stresses the role of research, including a landmark 2015 report by Public Health England, which concluded that vapes are 95% less harmful than cigarettes. With this evidence, the UK government had made vapes widely accessible to adults and actively encourages smokers to switch. If these trends were to continue, the UK would be on track to meet its goal of becoming a smoke-free nation by 2030. The GSTHR notes that this transition isn’t just consumer-led but also reflects pragmatic policymaking that supports public health objectives by focusing on reducing the use of combustible cigarettes.
Similarly, newly released data by the UK’s Office for National Statistics reported that smoking rates among young adults in the UK have drastically declined over the past decade. In 2023, fewer than 10% of 18-24-year-olds smoked, down from 25% just 12 years ago. The overall adult smoking rate dropped to 12%, with around 6 million smokers. Meanwhile, vaping rates continue to rise, particularly among younger adults, with nearly 16% of 16-24-year-olds using e-cigarettes.
The bill ignores adult vapers who formerly smoked
Sadly however, desite this success achieved via vaping, the UK seems to be turing onto itself with new restrictions on vaping products proposed in the updated Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Discussing this sad state of affairs on his blog page, local tobacco harm reduction expert Clive Bates, called the bill “a Misfire and a Backfire.”
Bates reiterated that the anti-vaping measures aimed at protecting youth could have detrimental effects on adult smokers, particularly those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. These individuals may rely on vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking. By making vaping more expensive and less accessible (through measures like banning disposable vapes, taxing products, and restricting flavours), the government risks dissuading adult smokers from switching to vaping. The anticipated rise in adult smoking due to these measures would likely negate any potential benefits for youth vaping.
In line with the concerns raised by the GSTHR report, Bates highlighted the Swap to Stop initiative, which has been launched in collaboration with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, could also be undermined by these restrictive policies. The measures proposed in the bill will likely discourage adult smokers from switching to vaping, which would result in a significant health improvement. By including non-combustible tobacco products in anti-smoking measures, the government risks undermining the effectiveness of vaping as a cessation aid, as seen in the program, explained Bates.
On discussing the bill with Bates, Vaping Post learned that any changes that may have occoured between May (when he wrote his detailed blog) to now, if anything are for the worse. “The situation has only worsened under the new Labour government. It fervently believes that reducing smoking can help the National Health Service through its endless struggle. I agree: but for that to work, they need to focus on middle-age smokers in poorer communities – and vaping is one of the best approaches for that.”
In response to whether he is aware of any updates, Bates added that if anything, the situation seems set on becoming even worse. “Yet since it has come into office, the Labour government has maintained the anti-vaping policies and rhetoric of its Tory predecessor, and there are rumours it plans to extend them with bans on vaping indoors. We will know more when the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is republished and when we see the tax plans in the Autumn Budget.
How would UK vapers respond to the restrictions?
Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted via OnePoll.com, of over 1,000 UK vapers revealed that more than half (52%) may revert to smoking if the proposed 2025 vaping ban is enforced. Commissioned by nicotine pouch brand Ubbs and retailer Haypp in anticipation of the Government’s controversial new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the survey highlighted that 85% of vapers are former smokers. A quarter have already attempted to quit vaping, with some switching to cigarettes (36%), nicotine pouches (26%), or gum (25%).
