According to the latest data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2024, for the first time, the number of regular e-cigarette users among people aged 16 and over in the country has surpassed that of traditional smokers – 5.4 million e-cigarette users compared to 4.9 million smokers.
I. Key Data: 10% vs. 9.1%, e-cigarettes overtake e-cigarettes for the first time.
- e-cigarette users
The usage rate among people aged 16 and above reached 10%, corresponding to approximately 5.4 million people, covering the "daily or occasional user" group; - Traditional smokers
Usage has dropped to 9.1%, corresponding to approximately 4.9 million people, a significant decline compared to ten years ago;
II. User demographics: Increased usage among women, with young people becoming the main users of e-cigarettes.
The data also reveals differences in usage among different groups, with particularly noticeable changes in gender and age dimensions:
1. Gender gap narrows: E-cigarette use among women rises to 10%.
In 2024, the usage rate of e-cigarettes among men decreased slightly from 11% in 2023 to 10.1%, while the usage rate among women increased from 8.5% to 10%, further converging the usage ratio between genders and breaking the previous pattern of men dominating the e-cigarette market.
2. Clear age segmentation: Young people love e-cigarettes, with the highest smoking rate among those aged 25-34.
- Frequent users of e-cigarettes
The 16-24 age group had the highest rate of "daily or occasional use", reaching 13% (about 1 in 8 people), making them the group with the highest acceptance of e-cigarettes among all age groups; - Peak smoking group
The smoking rate remains highest among people aged 25-34, at 12.6%; the smoking rate is lowest among people aged 65 and above, at only 7.1%. - Largest decline in ten years
The smoking rate among young people aged 18-24 has changed most significantly, dropping from "more than a quarter" in 2011 to "less than one-tenth" in 2024, a decrease of more than 60%, making them the core beneficiary group of tobacco control policies.
III. Government Actions: Advancing the Tobacco and E-cigarette Act, Enforcing Strict Regulation from Multiple Dimensions
To balance "tobacco control and harm reduction" with "risk prevention and control," the UK government is accelerating the implementation of the Tobacco and E-cigarette Bill, with several measures directly addressing core issues:
1. Those born in 2009 or later are prohibited from purchasing tobacco products;
2. Restrict flavor, packaging, and marketing;
3. Sales to individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited; retailers who violate this rule will face a £200 fine.
4. Products containing "fruit flavor" or "high concentration of nicotine" are prohibited.
Conclusion
The fact that e-cigarette users have surpassed smokers for the first time is a significant achievement in the UK's tobacco control policies and the widespread adoption of harm reduction products. However, it also brings new challenges such as "use by non-smokers" and "protection of youth." Finding a precise balance between "helping smokers quit" and "preventing addiction in healthy individuals" will be a core issue for nicotine regulation in the UK and globally.
Source: telegraph
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