Vaping: what UK parents need to know

Mar 16, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Most people in the UK will have noticed headlines in recent years about a sudden rise in youth vaping. This undoubtedly raises alarm bells for parents, with many stories about vapes being confiscated in schools, and growing fears about the damage vaping products could do in young hands.

Leading UK vaping retailer LiQuid has nearly a decade of industry experience. Here, the company’s experts share what they know about the current youth vaping issue, to help parents understand it and react appropriately if they’re concerned their child may be vaping.

The dangers of disposable vapes

Concerns about youth vaping have arisen as a result of the sudden rise in popularity of disposable vaping devices. Many industry stakeholders have suggested that the bright colours, sweet flavours and designs of these single-use vapes could attract underage users, and studies into the phenomenon seem to bear this out.

Disposable vapes are one of the most likely ways your child may be exposed to vaping. The small, brightly coloured devices are currently viewed as a trend by many young people and, as such, are highly sought-after status symbols for under-18s.

Multiple surveys have noted that in some areas of Britain, as many as one in five 15-year-olds have tried or regularly use disposable vapes specifically, with few to none reporting that they vape with reusable devices and bottled e-liquid.

Because of this high demand, several illegal and untested models of disposable vape have hit UK shelves. These products are often imported from other countries and aren’t legal under the Tobacco Products Directive or the UK’s Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, rules that enforce safety standards for all vaping products before they can be sold. As a result, these illegal vapes aren’t tested against UK standards, so consumers can’t know what’s inside them.

Key points for parents

There are a few aspects of disposable vape packaging that can be misleading, so it’s wise to take note. We’ll explain those here, and identify some things to look out for as a parent who is concerned their child may be vaping.

Nicotine salt e-liquid is deceptive

All disposables on the market contain a special kind of e-liquid called nic salts. When manufactured, the nicotine is combined with a natural acid. This neutralises its naturally harsh alkaline pH, which is the reason nicotine has a throat hit.

Because the pH has been made neutral, even the highest strengths permitted by law (20mg of nicotine, the most common strength for disposable vapes) can be vaped easily, even by someone young who would otherwise find such a strength unpalatable.

When combined with the sweet and fruity flavours available, youngsters could be inhaling a substance as sweet and smooth as confectionery, without understanding the dangers of consuming a highly addictive substance.

Of the 11 to 19 year olds surveyed in the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Project Youth Tobacco and Vaping survey in 2021, 52.5% said they felt addicted to vaping, with severity ranging from 'a little' to 'very' addicted.

2% is not a low nicotine strength

Because most disposable vapes describe their nicotine content as 2% on the box, we’ve seen anecdotal reports of children trying to excuse being caught with one by arguing it’s 'only 2%', seemingly low.

In reality, this 2% is equivalent to the more severe-sounding 20mg, the maximum amount permitted by UK law. The smooth nic salt e-liquid masks this strength, which only adds to the misconception. In fact, a 2% disposable vape that delivers 500 to 600 puffs delivers about the same amount of nicotine as around 50 cigarettes.

Underage sale is a big problem UK-wide

With the exception of a small few who report being given devices by friends or older teens, many children are buying these devices for themselves.

A 2021 study reveals data on where children have been accessing disposable vaping products. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) carried out a youth survey of 11 to 18 year olds, while the ITC authority led a similar study of those aged 16 to 19 who had vaped in the past 30 days.

Just under a quarter (24.8%) of the 11 to 17 year olds said they were given vapes by friends. The majority reported buying a device themselves:

22.1% said they bought them from newsagents
22.1% said they bought them online
16.1% reported buying a disposable vape from a big supermarket

In the ITC youth survey, among 16 to 19 year olds:

64.3% reported owning their own vaping product
37.5% reported being given vapes
32.1% bought them in shops
23.3% bought them online

Speak up

If you’re worried about your child vaping, whether at home, at school or out with friends, speak up and don’t be afraid to ask questions; you’re not alone. Millions of households in the UK are dealing with this challenge, and there’s help and guidance out there that can support parents to prevent their children from vaping.

Action on Smoking and Health has produced special guidance to help schools develop anti-vaping policies that protect and educate pupils and teachers alike. Speak to your child’s school about this and make sure they’re doing everything they can, in line with the guidance, to keep your children safe and vape-free.

This is a guest post by Hannah Spelman.