More people now vape than smoke across Great Britain, as new figures reveal a sharp rise in e-cigarette use and a continuing decline in tobacco consumption
As reported by the BBC, vaping has overtaken smoking for the first time in Great Britain, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The 2024 Opinions and Lifestyle Survey shows that 10% of adults aged 16 and over now use e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally, just ahead of the 9.1% who smoke. That equates to 5.4 million adults who vape, compared with 4.9 million smokers.
Daily vaping is most common among people aged 25 to 49, with a notable rise among women. The proportion of adults who say they have quit smoking has also increased, reaching 74.2% in 2024, up from 70.3% the year before.
Smoking rates have been falling for more than a decade as awareness of tobacco’s dangers has grown, while vaping – viewed as a less harmful alternative – has become more popular, especially among younger adults. The NHS says vaping carries only a fraction of the risks of smoking, but experts warn it is not risk-free and should not be used by children or non-smokers.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said there were still concerns about non-smokers and young people taking up vaping.
For GPs, the trend signals a need to refresh stop-smoking advice and ensure staff can talk confidently about vaping, promoting it as a harm-reduction tool for smokers while warning others of its risks.
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