UK Vaping Surpasses Smoking with 5.4 Million Users in 2024

For the first time in the UK, the number of people vaping has surpassed the number of cigarette smokers, with 10% of adults over 16 using e-cigarettes compared to 9.1% who smoke traditional tobacco. This shift is largely driven by a surge in vaping among women, whose usage increased to 10%, while vaping among men declined slightly. Vaping remains most popular among younger adults aged 16 to 24, although the daily use is highest among those aged 35 to 49. Experts acknowledge that this trend has contributed to a decline in smoking rates, which have dropped significantly since the 1970s, but caution that vaping is not risk-free and advocate for tighter regulations, especially to prevent uptake among non-smokers and youth. Health studies indicate that while vaping is associated with some risks such as COPD and high blood pressure, these risks are lower than those related to smoking tobacco. Public health officials see this crossover as a significant moment, with ongoing calls for measures like marketing bans and taxes on disposable vapes to manage the rise in vaping.