Trends in vaping in Scotland
Vera Buss, Loren Kock, Robert West, Emma Beard, Dimitra Kale, Jamie Brown
Updated 8th July 2025
Discover Major Findings Relating to Smoking in Scotland
Smoking in Scotland is the portal through which major findings from the Smoking Toolkit Study and other national data are made available to policy makers, clinicians, researchers, journalists and the general public. You can keep up to date with our RSS feed or by signing up to our mailing list.
Background
Vaping has become prevalent in many countries
In Scotland, vapes are currently regulated as consumer products
It is important to track vape use and assess how far they appear to be promoting or detracting from reduction in prevalence of cigarette smoking
Aims
To track vaping 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 vaping 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 (16 and over) of ~450 respondents.
Due to the pandemic, surveys are conducted by telephone (rather than face-to-face), and until December 2021, among adults aged 18 and over.
From April 2020 (switch to telephone), Ipsos started recording ~<5% cases as missing for social grade. To derive weight variable (which uses social grade), Ipsos assumed missing = social grade C1. To ensure analyses using weight and social grade reflect target weighed profile, social grade was recoded to reflect this assumption. Different assumptions for missing social grade cases were explored in a parallel telephone and face-to-face (with no missing social grade) wave, and this assumption found least distorting.
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 vape
Use of heated tobacco products is rare
Approximately 15-20% of long-term ex-smokers (quit >1 year) use vapes, but use among never smokers is relatively rare
Approximately 30-40% of vapers are dual users (also smoke)
Summary II
Frequency of vaping among users is greatest in long-term ex-smokers
The majority of vapes 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
Vaping 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 vapes
Vapes are the most popular aid used in a smoking quit attempt
Summary IV
The largest proportion of current smokers believe vapes are equally or more harmful than cigarettes
Conclusions
Approximately 10-13% of the adult population in Scotland vape, but vaping by never smokers remains rare (~3%)
