Teens Outsmart Parents: Shocking Vape Hiding Spots Exposed

As of November 2025, the vaping crisis among UK teenagers has reached alarming new heights. Data from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) indicates that the number of children aged 11-17 who have ever or currently vaped has tripled since 2021.

To conceal their habit from parents, teens have turned to a range of ingenious hiding spots. A recent analysis of 50 TikTok videos found that the most common advice is to stash vapes inside or between unused clothes, behind paintings and posters, and inside pillows or pillowcases. Other popular hiding spots include under mattresses, inside drawers, and even in stuffed toys and empty beauty product bottles.

Experts warn that this covert vaping behavior can have serious consequences. Children who regularly vape are three times more likely to become smokers later in life, and the habit has been linked to respiratory illness and substance abuse. Campaigners have long blamed predatory manufacturers for luring kids in with colorful packaging and child-friendly flavors.

While vape companies have been prohibited from promoting their products on TikTok, sellers have found ways to bypass the censor, often disguising vapes as lip gloss or sweets. Authorities and parents alike are struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving tactics of teen vapers.