The charity, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), has expressed concerns about the lack of progress of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in its Parliamentary journey. The Bill is in the House of Lords having had its second reading in April but more detailed scrutiny of the proposed law in committee has yet to begin.
ASH said health experts are concerned that the slow progress of the Bill is harming young people who are at continued risk of vape marketing but also adult smokers who ought to switch to vaping as a safer alternative.
The latest figures from the charity show that vaping prevalence among adults remains at 10.4%, unchanged since 2024, suggesting the growth in uptake has stalled. Among 11–17-year-olds vaping take up is also at around the same level as last year. The figures show that among this age group, 20% have tried vaping, 7% currently vape and 3% saying they vape daily.
Meanwhile the concerns about the risks of vaping for young people appears to have confused the public, ASH said. Its online survey conducted 10th February to 10th March 2025 found that 56% of adults up from 50% last year, and 63% of young people a rise from 58% in 2024, now believe vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking.
ASH is concerned about these figures because in reality the evidence shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking. A UK government study published in 2022 found that there was significantly lower exposure to harmful substances that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke. from vaping compared with smoking. However, the NHS says children and non-smokers should never vape.
There is also evidence that vaping can be an effective tool for quitting smoking and it is promoted by the NHS for this purpose. However, the ASH survey found that over a quarter (26%) of adults who currently smoke have never tried vaping. The charity is now calling for a communications strategy from the government which reinforces the greater harm of smoking over vaping and encouraging smokers to switch.
Additionally, the charity wants the government to now immediately schedule the Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s committee stage in the Lords. Once Royal Assent is given, ASH is calling on the government to swiftly bring in the measures that would ban brightly coloured vape packaging and flavour descriptors; restrict vape advertising; point-of-sale displays and marketing strategies targeting young people.
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of ASH said: “We are stuck in a dangerous limbo. Misconceptions about the relative harms of vaping are acting as a barrier to switching among people who smoke, meanwhile children remain exposed to products designed to appeal to them. It’s the worst of both worlds”
“Inaction by the last government, and now delays by this one, mean we’ve waited too long to act; we must urgently pass regulations to reclaim vaping as a quit aid, reduce youth access, and get the UK back on track to end smoking.”
We offer schools and colleges the HALO Smart Sensor which can support them to tackle vaping among their students. Our customers have chosen to take action after pupils have disrupted lessons by needing to leave to vape in school toilets, and when students have become unwell from vaping. If you want to find out more about how this device could help to curb vaping among young people, please get in touch.