NEWS
LATEST DATA FINDS NO EVIDENCE THAT ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
ARE A GATEWAY TO SMOKING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
New research from the ASH Smokefree
GB Youth Survey published in the journal
Public Health, finds no evidence that
young people are being recruited to
smoking through their use of electronic
cigarettes.
Experimentation increased over three
years with 4% of 11-18 year olds saying
they tried electronic cigarettes ‘once or
twice’ in 2013 rising to 10% in 2015.
However, regular use of electronic
cigarettes remained rare across all three
years with 2.4% of young people saying
they use electronic cigarettes at least
once a month in 2015. Almost all of
those reporting regular use were young
people who had been or were currently
smokers.
This occurred during a time when
awareness of electronic cigarettes has
increased significantly. Only 7% of 11-18
year olds were unaware of electronic
cigarettes in 2015 compared with a third
of young people in 2013.
The ASH study complements the most
12 WINTER EDITION VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE
recent Government statistics which show
that the decline in the number of young
people smoking has continued. In 2014,
regular smoking among 11-15 year
olds was at an all-time low of 3%. This
indicates that an increase in awareness
and use of electronic cigarettes is not
coinciding with any increase in teen
smokers.
The authors were concerned, however,
about the increase in false perceptions
about electronic cigarettes. Although
most young people correctly believe that
electronic cigarettes are less harmful
that smoking tobacco, between 2013
and 2015 the proportion believing that
the electronic devices are as equally as
harmful increased from 11% to 21%.
In 2015 the survey also asked for the first
time about the flavours young people
were using. Young people who smoked
were more likely to have tried tobacco
flavours while fruit flavours were most
popular overall.
Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy at
ASH commented:
“These results should reassure the public
that electronic cigarettes are not linked
with any rise in young people smoking.
Although more young people are trying
electronic cigarettes and many more
young people are aware of them, this
has not led to widespread regular use or
an increase in smoking.”
Prof Kevin Fenton, National Director for
Health and Wellbeing at Public Health
England said:
“This survey provides further
confirmation that regular use of
electronic cigarettes is still low and
largely confined to young people
who are already smokers. The new
law prohibiting the sale of electronic
cigarettes to young people under the
age of 18 - which is due to take effect
on 1 October – will further reduce
teenagers’ access to these products and
will reinforce the message that they are
intended for adult smokers who want to
cut down or stop smoking.”