- New research: Ban single use vapes and flavours and more than 1 million UK smokers and recent ex-smokers will either switch to tobacco, smoke more or purchase illegal vapes.
- 6.4 million adults still smoke in the UK as quit rates stall
- Big Tobacco and Illicit Vape Market to boom in event of vape bans
The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), the leading independent trade association for the UK vaping industry, is today publishing compelling new evidence that shows the potential hugely damaging impact of the Government introducing excessively restrictive measures on the vape sector that would only benefit Big Tobacco and the burgeoning illicit vape market.
New IBVTA commissioned research of 2,000 adults from January 2024 has shown that if single use vapes and flavours were banned 38% of regular smokers and recent ex-smokers that have used vaping to reduce or fully quit smoking would either smoke more cigarettes, switch back to smoking or purchase illegal vapes. This equates to more than 1 million adult smokers and recent ex-smokers (quit less than 5 years ago). Before the Government announces its long-awaited proposals to regulate the vape sector, they should recognise the role that single use vape devices and flavours play as a smoking cessation tool.
The Government further risks jeopardising quit efforts and missing its own smokefree 2030 target and potential savings including a possible £500m a year if half of England’s adult smokers vaped instead of smoked1.
Despite these advances, the public’s understanding of vaping’s benefits among smokers, has also diminished due to the stream of negative headlines. According to research published by UCL in December 2023 the decline in smoking rate has stalled3 in part due to the negative headlines around vaping. Findings from YouGov conducted in January 2024, indicates that 11% of people now believe vaping is as or more harmful than smoking, whilst 41% think both are about the same, a figure which is astonishing given vaping is recognised by Public Health England as 95% safer than tobacco use.
Chair of the IBVTA, Marcus Saxton said:
“The Government will shortly publish proposals in response to the recent public consultation on vaping. We all agree that children should not be using vapes and the industry is making significant efforts and progress to protect children including launching an industry code of conduct and changes to products, descriptors and flavours. We support proportionate and sensible regulation that would dissuade those from selling age restricted products to under 18s and support reductions in youth access. However, there is a very real risk that if the Government introduces overly restrictive measures, such as bans on single use vapes or flavours, it will have a clear negative impact, as the research shows, by making it harder for smokers to use vaping to quit. It’s clear that Big Tobacco would welcome the government moving forward with these restrictions as it will see a huge boost to those buying its products. The Government must avoid this at all costs particularly as those quitting smoking has flatlined in recent years.
“Further, with an estimated 2/3rds of the UK vape market comprising illicit products, now is not the time to unduly punish and overregulate the legitimate sector. That will simply benefit those pushing illegal and unregulated products and pose a clear risk to those looking to use vaping to help them stop smoking.
“The Government itself has confirmed that while not risk free, an expert independent review published by Public Health England concluded that vaping is considerably safer than smoking. The research that we are publishing today shows the critical role that vaping is playing in helping the 6.4 million smokers in the UK to quit. We stand ready to work with government to implement a proportionate regulatory regime.”
For further information, please visit:
Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: your views – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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