Trends in electronic cigarette use in Scotland
Vera Buss, Loren Kock, Robert West, Emma Beard, Dimitra Kale, Jamie Brown
Updated 25th April 2025
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Background
E-cigarette use has become prevalent in many countries
In Scotland, e-cigarettes are currently regulated as consumer products
It is important to track use of e-cigarettes and assess how far they appear to be promoting or detracting from reduction in prevalence of cigarette smoking
Aims
To track use of e-cigarettes over time and assess how far any increase is accompanied by changes in:
- use of other aids to cessation or smoking reduction
- key performance indicators for tobacco control (smoking prevalence, smoking cessation rates, attempts to stop smoking, success of attempts to stop smoking)
To assess prevalence of use of e-cigarettes in people who have never smoked regularly or stopped for more than a year
To estimate changes in the total tobacco and nicotine market
Methods
Monthly household surveys
Each month involves a new representative sample (18 and over) of ~450 respondents.
Due to the pandemic, from April 2020 surveys conducted by telephone (rather than face-to-face) and among adults aged 18 and over.
From January 2022 data collection resumed among those aged 16 and over.
Kock et al., (2021). Protocol for expansion of an existing national monthly survey of smoking behaviour and alcohol use in England to Scotland and Wales: The Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study. Wellcome Open Research, 6(67), 67.
Summary I
Approximately 10-13% of the adult population in Scotland use e-cigarettes
Use of heated tobacco products is rare
Approximately 20% of long-term ex-smokers (quit >1 year) use e-cigarettes, but use among never smokers is relatively rare
Approximately 32-42% of e-cigarette users are dual users (also smoke)
Summary II
Frequency of e-cigarette use among users is greatest in long-term ex-smokers
The majority of e-cigarettes used contain nicotine
Never smokers are most likely to use disposables or rechargeables with a tank to refill and e-liquids with 20mg or more of nicotine. A minority of users did not know the strength
Specialist vape shops (including online specialist) and newsagents are most popular source for purchase
E-cigarette use is most popular with younger people and among less advantaged social grades
Summary III
Approximately 30% of smokers and recent ex-smokers (quit in the past year) use e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes are the most popular aid used in a smoking quit attempt
Summary IV
The largest proportion of current smokers believe e-cigarettes are equally or more harmful than cigarettes
Conclusions
Approximately 10-13% of the adult population in Scotland use e-cigarettes, but use of e-cigarettes by never smokers remains rare (~3%)
