Third of UK teenagers who vape will go on to start smoking, research shows
Guardian1 day
Study: Third of UK Teen Vapers Likely to Smoke in Future
Above: A woman poses for a photograph holding a single-use vape on April 2, 2025, in Cardiff, Wales. Image copyright: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Vapes should be prescription-only. Originally designed to help tobacco smokers quit, they have become a gateway to nicotine addiction for children. With young people becoming addicted at alarming rates with unknown long-term consequences, further measures must be taken to restrict access to vapes and ensure that only those who really need them have them.
Right narrative
A vape ban could backfire dangerously. If vapes are restricted, it is likely that teenagers will turn to cigarettes or dangerous black market devices instead. Meanwhile, any further barriers to access would punish adults who should have the individual freedom to vape if they please. Nicotine-dependent youth need support, not nanny state prohibition.