The Vaping Dilemma of 2023

Smoking Cessation Aid or Youth Gateway?

In the world of smoking cessation and public health, vaping remains a hotly debated topic. While many tout e-cigarettes as a viable alternative to traditional smoking, there’s a growing concern that vaping is acting as a gateway, particularly for the youth, drawing them into potential life-long nicotine addiction. As the year unfolds, the vaping market in 2023 presents interesting trends and numbers, bringing both promise and alarm.

Vaping has come a long way since its inception, growing rapidly in popularity, especially in the last few years. As an alternative to traditional smoking, e-cigarettes have become the go-to option for many looking to quit. However, with this popularity comes increased visibility and accessibility, leading to an undeniable surge in experimentation among young people.

The Rising Trend of Youth Vaping

A worrying statistic reveals that the proportion of children experimenting with vaping grew by 50% year on year in March/April 2023, moving from one in thirteen to one in nine. What’s more, telling is the visibility of e-cigarette promotions. More than half of all children report seeing e-cigarette promotions in stores, and nearly a third encounter them online. It’s becoming increasingly hard for children to escape the allure of vaping when its promotion is everywhere, with only 20% saying they never see vapes promoted, a decline from 31% the previous year. It’s pertinent to note that in the UK, selling e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 is illegal, making these figures even more concerning.

Diving Deeper into the Numbers

In 2023, 20.5% of children had tried vaping, a clear increase from 15.8% in 2022 and 13.9% in 2020, before the first COVID lockdown. However, most of them had only vaped once or twice (11.6%).

Notably, since 2021, the proportion of current vapers has surpassed that of smokers, standing at 7.6% against 3.7% in 2023.

Age plays a factor too. While 15% of 11-15-year-olds have ever tried vaping, this number jumps significantly to 34% for 16-17-year-olds and even higher to 38% for 18-year-olds.

Interestingly, over half of those who have never smoked say they tried vaping out of sheer curiosity. However, peer influence is rising as a factor, and taste remains a steady reason.

Sadly, for the first time, most children believe that vaping is just as harmful, if not more so, than smoking. This misconception isn’t deterring them from trying it, though.

The Rise of Disposables and Flavour Preferences

Perhaps one of the most significant shifts in the vaping landscape in 2023 is the growing market for disposable e-cigarettes. A staggering 69% of vapers claimed that the most frequently used device was a disposable vape, a massive leap from 52% in 2022 and a mere 7.7% in 2021. The leading brand in this category? Elf Bar. (Stats from Ash.org)

While vaping continues to serve as a less harmful alternative for those wanting to move away from traditional tobacco products, it’s crucial that this doesn’t come at the expense of introducing a new generation to nicotine. The rise in the popularity of disposables, particularly among young people, coupled with increasing experimentation rates, indicates a pressing need for better regulation, education, and public awareness. The challenge remains: how do we strike the right balance?

What can vape Shops Do?

Vape shops, like any other business, have a responsibility to conduct their operations ethically and responsibly, especially considering the health implications and the young demographic that is drawn to vaping. Here are some ways vape shops can act more responsibly and ethically:

Adhere to Legal Restrictions: Ensure that no products are sold to minors. Staff should be trained to always ask for identification if there’s any doubt about a customer’s age.

Prioritise Education: Equip staff with knowledge about vaping, health implications, and the products in the store. They should be trained to educate customers, especially new ones, about responsible vaping practices.

Promote Smoking Cessation: Instead of solely marketing vapes as a lifestyle choice, focus on their potential as smoking cessation tools. Recommend beginner-friendly devices to smokers looking to quit.

Clear Product Descriptions: Ensure that all products have clear descriptions, ingredients lists, and safety instructions. This will help consumers make informed choices.

Don’t Market to Minors: Even if unintentional, avoid marketing practices that appeal primarily to younger audiences, such as using cartoon characters or promoting extremely sweet flavors as the main attraction.

Safety First: Offer devices and accessories that are compliant with safety standards. Also, educate consumers on safe usage, storage, and disposal of vapes and their components.

Provide Recycling Facilities: Given the environmental concerns with disposable vapes and used coils, shops could offer recycling bins and information on how to dispose of vape-related items responsibly.

Transparent Nicotine Content: Clearly label the nicotine content in e-liquids, and educate customers about the effects and addictive nature of nicotine.

Promote Lower Nicotine Levels: Instead of pushing high-nicotine products, suggest lower nicotine levels for those trying to gradually decrease their nicotine intake.

Engage with the Community: Host or participate in community education events, providing accurate information about vaping, its benefits, and risks. This engagement can help debunk myths and ensure consumers have accurate information.

Avoid Aggressive Upselling: Respect customers’ choices and needs. If a customer is content with a basic setup and isn’t interested in a high-powered device or extra accessories, respect their decision.

Stock Credible Products: Ensure that all products, especially e-liquids, are sourced from credible and reputable manufacturers. Avoid selling counterfeit or low-quality products.

Encourage Feedback: Create channels where customers can voice their concerns, experiences, or complaints. This can help shops continuously improve and address any issues promptly.

Stay Updated with Research: The vaping industry and associated research are continuously evolving. Shops should keep abreast of the latest research to provide accurate information to customers.

By acting responsibly and ethically, vape shops not only build trust with their customers but also contribute positively to the community’s health and well-being. As a responsible and ethical vape retailer, The Vape Shop employs all the above methods and has gone further to outright ban disposable vapes due to high nicotine, being a major gateway for younger people and their environmental impact.