The Story Vol 22

TRENDS: Vaping
Data has been collected annually on young
people’s use of e-cigarettes and tobacco. The
2021 survey was filled out by 2513 11–18 year
olds, and is representative of young people in
Great Britain. 1
% USE OF E-CIGARETTES BY 11–17 YEAR OLDS
Have never used/unaware of e-cigarettes Have tried them once or twice Use them more than once a week
Previous e-cigarette user Use them less than weekly
2021
88.2
0.8
7.2
2
1.2
2020
85.4
1.7
8.1
2.4
1.7
2019
85.8
0.7
8
2.9
1.5
2018
85.7
0.6
10
1.6
1.5
2017
85.9
1.5
9
1.8
1.1
2016
89.9
7.7
1.2
0.8
2015
87.6
9.3
1.8
0.5
2014
92.8
5.6
0.8 0.6
2013
95.9
3.1
0.3 0.3
In 2021 11.2% of 11–17 year olds had tried vaping, compared to 13.9% in 2020. This is largely
unchanged from 2015 when 11.6% of 11–17 year olds had tried e-cigarettes.
% USE OF E-CIGARETTES BY AGE, 2021
I have never used them/unaware of e-cigarettes I have only tried an e-cigarette once or twice I use them
more than once a week I used e-cigarettes in the past but no longer do I use them less than weekly
18
3
3.4
6.1
17.6
68.7
16–17
1.6 2.4 3.5
15.6
76
11–15
0.50.8
1.4
3.8
93
Children under 16 are the least likely to try e-cigarettes. In 2021, only 6.5% of 11–15 year olds had
tried vaping, compared to 23.2% of 16–17 year olds. Just under a third of 18 year olds reported trying
an e-cigarette (30.1%)
P.6