More than half of UK vapers have given up smoking
- Of the UK’s 2.9 million e-cigarette users, more than half have given up smoking
- Yet, many vapers continue to rely on both conventional and electronic cigarettes
- Only 13% recognise that e-cigs are a lot less harmful than conventional smoking
- More than a quarter think that vaping is equally or more dangerous than tobacco
- Fruit-flavoured vapes are the most popular option, overtaking previous tobacco
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
86
View
comments
More vapers have quit smoking than those who continue using conventional cigarettes.
Of the UK’s 2.9 million e-cigarette users, more than half have given up smoking, according to an annual survey by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
Ann McNeill, professor of tobacco addiction at King’s College London, said: ‘This year’s ASH survey finds that around 1.5 million vapers are ex-smokers, for the first time a larger number than those who continue to smoke.
‘This is encouraging news as we know that vapers who continue to smoke continue to be exposed to cancer-causing substances.’
The first electronic cigarette was created by a pharmacist in Beijing in 2003, but they didn’t gain popularity in the UK until around 2008.
More than half of the UK’s 2.9 million e-cigarette users have since given up smoking entirely
E-CIGARETTES ARE GATEWAY TO TOBACCO FOR TEENS
Electronic cigarettes are getting a generation of teenagers hooked on nicotine, a study has warned.
Researchers claim that teenagers who would never normally smoke are now starting out with so-called vaping before moving on to regular cigarettes, risking long-term health problems.
The study, published this January, was conducted by the University of California, San Francisco.
The researchers found the number of schoolchildren who were smoking both cigarettes and e-cigarettes has risen between 2011 and 2014, suggesting that the trendy devices are a gateway to the harmful habit.
The report’s authors said youths in the study who were deemed at a low risk of smoking cigarettes may not have developed a regular habit if e-cigarettes did not exist.
Despite the encouraging findings, many vapers still dual-use conventional and electronic cigarettes, and are therefore exposing themselves to tobacco’s cancer-causing substances, the study added.
Ms McNeill said: ‘The message for the 1.3 million vapers who still smoke is that they need to go further and switch completely.’
The survey also revealed people are overestimating the dangers of vaping, with only 13 per cent of respondents recognising that e-cigarettes are a lot less harmful than smoking.
More than a quarter (26 per cent) think e-cigarettes are more or equally harmful to tobacco.
The most common reasons e-cigarette users ditch tobacco is to help them give up completely and to save money, the survey added.
Experts are hoping the UK’s nine million active smokers will realise vaping is a much less harmful alternative to satisfy their nicotine cravings.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive at ASH, said: ‘The rapid growth in e-cigarette use has come to an end, while over a third of smokers have still never tried e-cigarettes, saying the main reasons are concerns about the safety and addictiveness of e-cigarettes.
‘It’s very important smokers realise that vaping is much, much less harmful than smoking.’
The survey also find that fruit has surpassed tobacco as the most commonly used flavour to use in vapes.
This comes after researchers from London-based British American Tobacco found that e-cigarettes do not cause cancer.
The finding re-enforces claims that e-cigs are a safer alternative to tobacco, the study claims.
Share or comment on this article
- Macron, 39, threatens tough stance on Brexit after…
- ‘Throw her in!’ Shocking moment an elderly woman is body…
- Queen of the road! Her Majesty, 91, is spotted driving a…
- France’s 64-year-old new First Lady – who Macron fell in…
- ‘The loneliness became unbearable’: British woman, 22,…
- ‘I wish they didn’t let you in the country’: Fury as…
- ‘The dog’s got the baby’: Aunt screamed for help as…
- This is your captain sleeping! Pilot is suspended after…
- Obama fights for his legacy: Former President appeals to…
- ‘Everybody was surrounding him, laughing and pointing’:…
- Labour’s sneering Emily Thornberry suggests that voters…
- Diver shares shocking photos of rays with their heads…
- Boston doctor sent desperate message to friend pleading…
- The school-run road that’s raked in £2.6million of fines:…
- Head of ISIS in Afghanistan was killed in a raid by US…
- A £20m glass house for skiing, a £2.5m birthday bash and…
- British woman, 29, is attacked with ‘two litres of acid’…
- Zoe Ball’s tragic lover was ‘under enormous pressure’…
Comments 89
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.