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Wales Sees Drop in School Vaping Rates
22 Sep
Summary
- Vaping and smoking rates among Welsh schoolchildren have significantly decreased.
- This decline follows the announcement of a ban on disposable vapes.
- Regular vapers and smokers among students fell from 8% to 5.9%.
For the first time in several years, vaping rates among schoolchildren in Wales appear to be declining. Data from a recent survey of over 130,000 secondary school students reveals a significant fall in both vaping and smoking habits across all age groups. Public health officials attribute this positive trend, observed since 2023, to the announced ban on disposable vapes, although the law's full impact is still under evaluation.
The student health and well-being survey, conducted every two years by a research network including Public Health Wales and Cardiff University, added questions about vaping in 2017. The latest survey indicates that 9,100 learners in Years 7 to 11 now vape regularly, a reduction of 3,200 from 2023. Simultaneously, regular smoking rates have halved to 1.8%.
The proportion of learners who have tried a vape fell from 25.7% to 21% between 2023 and the most recent survey. Those identifying as regular vapers or smokers decreased from 8% to 5.9% in the same period. Older students like Jay, 17, suggest that peer pressure and the initial hype of vapes have lessened among their cohort, while younger students may still face social pressures. Amelie, also 17, noted that health consciousness among her peers deters them from vaping.
