Vape Nation

One in five pupils have tried e-cig, says research.

21:25 26 July 2015

More pupils in England aged between 11 and 15 have tried electronic cigarettes than have tried smoking, as confirmed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The official figures showed the lowest levels of smoking or drinking ever recorded.

 

The survey, which was participated by 6,173 pupils in 210 schools, showed that more than one in five have tried e-cigarettes while 3per cent had tried legal highs. In 2003, 42per cent of pupils tried cigarettes at least once. The number dropped to 18per cent this year which is the lowest since 1982.

 

Elizabeth Fuller, the research director at NatCen Social Research: "We see that young people are more likely to have tried an e-cigarette than a traditional cigarette.

 

"We can't be certain why this is so, but there are likely to be a number of reasons, including the novelty element, price, and the fact there are currently no restrictions on children under the age of 18 buying e-cigarettes."

 

However, the report said there was "little evidence of frequent use of e-cigarettes".

 

Meanwhile, Prof Kevin Fenton, the director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "The continuing decline in under-18s smoking, drinking and drug use is encouraging.

 

"It is reassuring that regular use of e-cigarettes remains low at 1%, and almost entirely among young people who have previously smoked tobacco.

 

"Crucially, the new Children and Families Act will make it an offence to sell e-cigarettes to children and will help address the number of young people trying e-cigarettes, while ensuring their continued use as a tool to help adult smokers to quit."