Vaping among adults in England who have never regularly smoked: a population-based study, 2016–24

Background

E-cigarettes are increasingly used by smokers and ex-smokers, often to support smoking cessation, but also among those who have never regularly smoked. The aim of our study is to estimate time trends in vaping prevalence among adults who have never regularly smoked and describe the profile of adult never-regular-smokers who vape.

Methods

In this nationally representative, monthly cross-sectional survey in England, 153 073 participants (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from July, 2016, to April, 2024. 94 107 (61·5%) of the 153 073 participants had never regularly smoked. Logistic regression estimated associations between survey wave and current vaping, overall, and by sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol consumption.

Findings

Vaping prevalence among never-regular-smokers was relatively stable up to 2021, at an average of 0·5% (95% CI 0·5–0·6) between July, 2016, and December, 2020; it then increased rapidly, reaching 3·5% (2·8–4·4) in April, 2024. This increase was largely driven by young adults (19·0% [13·9–25·4] among individuals aged 18 years) and those with higher alcohol consumption levels (22·1% [11·7–37·8%] among the heaviest drinkers). By contrast, trends among all adults (including current and former smokers) suggested the rise in vaping prevalence plateaued among all ages by early 2023. In 2023–24, 55·6% (48·2–62·8) of never-regular-smokers who vaped reported vaping daily; 81·7% (75·4–86·7) had been vaping for 6 months or more. The most used devices in 2023–24 were disposables (50·2% [42·9–57·5]) and the most commonly used e-liquids contained 20 mg/mL or more nicotine (44·6% [37·4–52·0]).

Interpretation

The number of adults in England who vape but have never regularly smoked rose rapidly between 2021 and 2024, particularly in younger age groups and most of these individuals reported vaping regularly over a sustained period. The public health impacts of this finding will depend on what these people would otherwise be doing: it is likely that some might have smoked if vaping were not an available option (exposing them to more harm), whereas others might not have smoked or vaped.

Funding

Cancer Research UK.