Over the past few decades, smoking rates in the UK have seen a dramatic decline, transforming the nation’s approach to tobacco use and public health. Once home to some of the highest smoking rates globally, the UK is now a leader in tobacco control. Landmark research and public health campaigns have significantly reduced smoking prevalence, but smoking-related illnesses still impose a heavy burden on the National Health Service (NHS). In response, the government has embraced what they classify as safer nicotine products (SNP), like nicotine vapes, pouches, and patches, as essential tools for helping smokers switch to healthier alternatives. 

Changing Smoking and Vaping Rates Over the Last 10 Years 

In the past decade, smoking rates have fallen largely due to the increasing popularity of vaping. When vapes first became available in 2005, nearly a quarter of UK adults (23.7%) smoked. By 2015, the smoking rate had dropped to 17.2%, while 5.4% of adults had switched to vaping. By 2022, smoking rates reached an all-time low of 12.9%, and 8.7% of the population, or 4.5 million people, were vaping. As of August 2024, vaping continues to grow, with 11% of adults—5.6 million people—now using vapes. 

This shift to vaping has played a significant role in helping people quit smoking. According to a 2022 review commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), vaping products were the most common aid used by individuals attempting to stop smoking. The review found that in stop smoking services between 2020 and 2021, quit attempts involving a vape had the highest success rates—64.9%, compared to 58.6% for non-vape quit attempts. Many of these successful quit attempts are attributed to the accessibility and variety of vape products, with fruit flavors being the most popular (35.5%), followed by menthol/mint (22.5%).

Why Are People Switching to Vaping? 

Vaping offers several compelling reasons for smokers to switch. According to a 2023 survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 31% of former smokers cited vaping as the tool that helped them quit cigarettes, while 22% used vapes to prevent relapse. Other reasons include enjoying the experience (14%) and saving money (12%). The cost-saving aspect is particularly significant, as vapes, while subject to the same 20% VAT as cigarettes, do not carry additional tobacco duties. In contrast, a pack of cigarettes includes an additional 16.5% tobacco duty plus £6.33, making them far more expensive. 

Research from 2019 found that switching entirely from cigarettes to vapes could save the average person around £780 annually. Although a new tax on vapes had been proposed by the former Conservative government, which would increase the price of vape liquids based on their strength, vaping remains a far more cost-effective option compared to smoking. This price difference has made vaping an appealing alternative for many smokers looking to cut down on or quit smoking altogether.

For those still smoking, vaping has become a popular harm-reduction tool. ASH’s 2023 survey revealed that 19% of smokers vaped to cut down on smoking, while 17% vaped in an attempt to quit. Additionally, 59% of those who both smoked and vaped said they took up vaping to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoked, and 49% cited vaping as a method to help them stop smoking entirely. Among those who had never smoked, the primary reason for vaping was simply enjoyment (39%), with 27% stating they wanted to give it a try.

A Brighter Future for Smoking Cessation 

As the UK makes strides toward becoming a smoke-free society through harm-reduction strategies like vaping and safer nicotine products, there are valuable lessons for the United States. While the US has also seen declining smoking rates, smoking remains a leading cause of preventable deaths. Adopting a similar approach to the UK—one that promotes safer alternatives like nicotine vapes and pouches as tools for smoking cessation—could help accelerate progress in reducing smoking-related illnesses and deaths across the country. 

By supporting a regulatory environment that encourages the use of SNPs while maintaining affordability and accessibility, the US could see a significant decline in smoking rates. Educating the public on the benefits of switching to less alternative nicotine products, as well as fostering a supportive ecosystem through healthcare services and stop-smoking initiatives, would help more people quit traditional cigarettes and lead to improved public health outcomes. The success seen in the UK serves as a model for how harm reduction, combined with effective public health campaigns, can pave the way for a healthier, smokefree future in the US.