VAPING prevalence among young adults in Great Britain, particularly use of disposable devices, has significantly declined following the government’s announcement of an impending ban on disposables, raising questions about how policy shifts might influence U.S. vaping habits.
New research examining data from over 88,000 individuals in Great Britain shows that once the UK government signaled new vaping restrictions in January 2024, including a ban on disposable vapes, trends in overall vaping prevalence abruptly changed course. Prior to the policy announcement, vaping had been on a steep incline, increasing by 23.4% annually. Use of disposable devices alone was growing at nearly 18% per year.
That growth stalled dramatically in the year following the announcement. By January 2025, vaping rates stabilized across the general population and among young adults aged 16–24. Use of disposable vapes saw the most striking shift. Among all vapers, disposable use dropped from 43.6% to 29.4% in a single year. Among young adult vapers, that number fell even more sharply, from 63.2% to just 35.2%.
The data, collected as part of the ongoing Smoking Toolkit Study, suggest that even the anticipation of regulatory action can drive meaningful behavior change. The researchers used segmented regression analysis to isolate changes in trend, confirming a reversal in both vaping prevalence and disposable use after the policy announcement.
For U.S. clinicians and healthcare professionals monitoring nicotine use among adolescents and young adults, these findings underscore the potential impact of clear, proactive policy signals. Disposable vapes remain widely accessible in many U.S. states, and similar usage trends among American youth have raised alarm in recent years.
With refocus on youth tobacco prevention and potential FDA actions under review, this UK study adds timely evidence that government messaging and regulation, even before implementation, can significantly alter public behavior.
Reference: Jackson SE et al. Changes in vaping trends since the announcement of an impending ban on disposable vapes: A population study in Great Britain. Addiction. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70057.
