Over One Million UK Never-Smokers Now Vape as E-Cigarette Use Overtakes Tobacco for Second Year

More than a million adults in the UK who have never smoked a cigarette are now using vapes, according to newly released data for 2025. The figure marks a notable rise from the previous year, when approximately 940,000 never-smokers reported vaping, underscoring the growing presence of e-cigarettes among people with no history of tobacco use. The finding comes from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which publishes annual estimates on smoking habits across Great Britain.

The latest ONS release reveals that 1.1 million people who describe themselves as never-smokers now vape either daily or occasionally. This group represents a significant share of the overall vaping population and has drawn attention from public health experts, who note that vaping is intended primarily as a tool for smokers trying to quit rather than a habit for those who have never used tobacco. The NHS advises that non-smokers and anyone aged 17 or under should never vape.

For the second consecutive year, vaping has outpaced traditional cigarette smoking among people over 16. According to the ONS, 5.4 million over-16s now use e-cigarettes, compared with 4.9 million who smoke tobacco. This continues a pattern first observed in 2024 and signals a broader shift in how people in the UK consume nicotine. The number of smokers has continued its long-term decline, falling to roughly one in ten adults, down from 5.3 million in 2024.

The data also highlights a changing demographic among vapers. People aged 25 to 35 are now the most likely group to use e-cigarettes, overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds for the first time. Among the 25-34 age bracket, 16.4% report vaping daily or occasionally. David Mais, from the ONS, said the trend suggests vapers are getting older, which "may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both." The shift indicates that vaping is no longer confined to younger adults and is becoming more common among those in their late twenties and early thirties.

Overall, the proportion of people who have never used an e-cigarette edged down slightly in 2025, reaching 83.0%, compared with 83.4% in 2024. Meanwhile, 7.2% of respondents reported having used an e-cigarette, up from 6.6% a year earlier. These figures suggest that experimentation and regular use of vapes continue to spread across the adult population, even as cigarette smoking recedes.

Experts attribute the long-term decline in smoking to growing awareness of tobacco's harmful effects, which has motivated many people to quit. Vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, although the NHS cautions that the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are not yet fully understood. This uncertainty has fuelled debate about how to balance vaping's role as a cessation aid against concerns about uptake among never-smokers and young people.

The ONS data also breaks down smoking patterns by gender and age. Men were more likely than women to smoke in 2025, consistent with previous years. People aged 45 to 54 had the highest proportion of current smokers at 12.4%. By contrast, young adults aged 18 to 24 saw the largest drop in smoking among all age groups, suggesting that tobacco use is becoming increasingly concentrated among middle-aged adults.

Among those who still smoke, half said they intended to quit, reflecting a widespread desire to kick the habit. The availability of vaping products as an alternative has likely contributed to this intention, as many smokers view e-cigarettes as a stepping stone away from tobacco. However, the rise in vaping among never-smokers complicates the public health picture, raising questions about whether e-cigarettes are reaching people who might otherwise have remained nicotine-free.

New legislation set to take effect in the new year will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, with the aim of creating a "smoke-free" generation. The measure, part of the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, represents one of the most ambitious tobacco control policies in the world. By phasing out tobacco sales for younger cohorts, lawmakers hope to prevent future generations from ever taking up smoking.

Hazel Cheeseman, from the charity Action on Smoking and Health, described the latest statistics as encouraging. She said smoking has fallen enormously over recent decades but remains the biggest driver of preventable death in the UK. "Now is the time to finish the job," she added, urging continued effort to reduce tobacco-related harm. Her comments reflect a broad consensus among health campaigners that while progress has been made, smoking still imposes a heavy toll on public health.

The ONS release forms part of an annual series that tracks smoking habits in Great Britain and provides key evidence for policymakers. The 2025 data show that the long-term downward trend in smoking is continuing, but also that vaping has become a mainstream behaviour. With more people vaping than smoking, the UK is witnessing a historic shift in nicotine consumption patterns.

For health officials, the challenge lies in maximising the benefits of vaping as a quitting tool while minimising the risks of uptake among non-smokers and young people. The NHS maintains that vaping is less harmful than smoking but stresses that it is not risk-free. The long-term effects remain unclear, and the precautionary principle suggests that those who have never smoked should avoid e-cigarettes altogether.

The rise in vaping among never-smokers also raises questions about marketing, flavours, and accessibility. Critics argue that appealing product designs and sweet flavours may attract people who would not otherwise use nicotine. Supporters counter that such features help adult smokers switch away from combustible tobacco, which is far more dangerous. Balancing these competing concerns will be central to future regulation.

As the UK moves toward its smoke-free generation goal, the latest figures illustrate both progress and new complexities. Smoking rates are at historic lows, but vaping is expanding, particularly among age groups that were once less likely to use e-cigarettes. The coming years will reveal whether these trends continue and how they shape the nation's health. For now, the data make one thing clear: the way people in the UK consume nicotine is changing, and public health policy must adapt accordingly.