BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
VAPING
Survey reveals extent of underage vaping
The ASH research reveals that Elf Bar and Geek Bar are overwhelmingly the most popular vape brands.
V
aping among children aged 11 to 17-years-old increased from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022, according to the annual YouGov youth survey for ASH.The research reveals that proportion of children who admit ever having tried vaping has also risen from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022. The data shows that disposable e-cigarettes are now the most used product among current vapers, up more than
seven-fold from 7% in 2020 and 8% in 2021, to 52% in 2022. Elf Bar and Geek Bar are overwhelmingly the most popular, with only 30% of current users having tried any other brands. The research also reveals that 92% of under-18s who’ve never smoked have also never vaped, and only 2% have vaped more than once or twice. Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, said: “The disposable vapes
Fog of uncertainty: just how many kids are vaping?
that have surged in popularity over the last year are brightly coloured pocket-sized products with sweet flavours and sweet names, and are widely available for under a fiver, no wonder they’re attractive to children. “As the Khan review recommended to government, an additional £15m needs to be invested in enforcement, and this should include vaping as well as tobacco products. The laws also need strengthening to prohibit child-friendly packaging and labelling of vaping products and to prevent promotion on social media.” John Herriman, Chief Executive at Chartered Trading Standards Institute, added: “Trading Standards teams are doing their best to protect young people from underage sales of both vapes and tobacco. However, this is an increasingly challenging situation as a result of continued government funding cuts for local authorities which has meant spending on trading standards has halved over the last decade or so. Given the particular prominence around age restriction as a means of reducing smoking rates, in the recently published independent review of smoking by Javed Khan, additional funding is vital for trading standards, so that we can protect our communities and enforce the law.”
WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2022/ ISSUE 113/ SLRMAG.CO.UK I 25
