Publication, Part of Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023
National statistics, Accredited official statistics
Correction to school lessons and guidance (part 12)
Following the initial publication it was discovered that teacher responses from volunteer schools had not been excluded from the analysis (see Appendix A8 for information about volunteer schools). This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued including only teacher responses from sampled schools.
Only Part 12: School lessons and guidance was affected, specifically tables 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9 and 12.10, and the associated charts and commentary in the sections 'Frequency of lessons about tobacco, alcohol and drugs' and 'Lesson contributors and sources of information used to prepare lessons'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-5 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of the most common contributors and sources of information to lessons.
13 February 2025 17:00 PM
Part 4: Electronic cigarette use (vaping)
Introduction
In 2014, pupils were asked for the first time about e-cigarettes, with further questions added in 2016.
New legislation came into force in England and Wales on 1 October 2015, introducing a minimum age of sale of 18 for e-cigarettes and prohibiting the purchase of these products on behalf of someone under the age of 18.
In 2015, Public Health England (PHE) published an independent evidence review on electronic cigarettes which concluded that the devices are significantly less harmful than smoking. The review also found no evidence that electronic cigarettes act as a route into smoking for children or non-smokers:
E-cigarettes: an evidence update
New policy and guidance has since been published and can be found on the following page:
E-cigarettes and vaping: policy, regulation and guidance
Pupils were asked about awareness, frequency and length of use, sources of e-cigarettes and attitudes to use.
Current e-cigarette users were categorised as follows:
- Regular users (defined as usually using an e-cigarette at least once per week);
- Occasional users (defined as using an e-cigarette sometimes but less than once per week, but excluding those who had tried them just once or twice in total)
Lifetime use (ever used an e-cigarette) additionally includes ex e-cigarette users, and those who had only tried them once or twice.
The majority (96%) of pupils were aware of e-cigarettes. Pupils who said they weren't aware were not asked any further questions on e-cigarettes.
E-cigarette prevalence
E-cigarette prevalence, by year
The proportion of pupils classified as current e-cigarette users in 2023 is 9%. This is the same as 2021.
25% (confidence interval 23-27%) of pupils reported they had ever used e-cigarettes, compared to 22% in 2021 (not a significant change).
E-cigarette prevalence, by gender
For girls and boys, prevalence of both regular and current users was similar to 2021.
Boys were less likely than other genders to be both current e-cigarette and regular e-cigarette users. The difference between girls and pupils with another gender identity was not significant.
Current e-cigarette use, by age
Current e-cigarette use increased with age; from 1% of 11 year olds, to 10% of 14 year olds and 19% of 15 year olds. The proportion of current e-cigarette users has remained similar across all ages compared to 2021.
E-cigarette prevalence, by cigarette smoking status
Pupils who had ever smoked were much more likely to also have ever used an e-cigarette, than those who had never smoked.
63% of ex-smokers were current e-cigarette users.
Most regular smokers (84%) reported having ever used e-cigarettes. This compares to 17% of pupils who had never smoked.
71% of regular smokers were also regular e-cigarette users. Only 1% of pupils who had never smoked were regular e-cigarette users.
Order of smoking tobacco cigarettes and using e-cigarettes, by year (pupils who have ever used e-cigarettes)
The proportion of pupils who have ever used e-cigarettes, who started regularly smoking tobacco cigarettes before first trying e-cigarettes has decreased in 2023.
5% started regularly smoking tobacco cigarettes before first trying e-cigarettes, compared to 10% in 2021. The proportion who never regularly smoked tobacco cigarettes has increased to 89% in 2023, from 85% in 2021.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 4.1 to 4.8, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Sources of e-cigarettes
Sources of e-cigarettes (regular users)
Pupils could give more than one answer.
54% of regular e-cigarette users said other people gave them e-cigarettes, the most common of whom were friends (40%).
54% of regular e-cigarette users said they usually bought them from any kind of shop, similar to 2023. E-cigarette shops were the most common type (32%). Pupils who said they had bought e-cigarettes from Newsagents has decreased from 41% in 2021 to 26% in 2023.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 4.9 to 4.11, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Attitudes to e-cigarette use
Attitudes to e-cigarette use by people of pupil's age, by age
The proportion of pupils who thought it was ok to try or use e-cigarettes was similar to 2021.
29% of pupils thought it was ok for people of their own age to try an e-cigarette to see what it's like, and 21% thought it was ok to use an e-cigarette once a week, compared to 32% and 20% respectively, in 2021.
Positive attitude increased with age; 9% of 11 year olds thought it was ok for someone of their own age to use an e-cigarette once a week, compared to 34% of 15 year olds.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 4.12 and 4.13, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Last edited: 13 February 2025 4:59 pm