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Publication - Progress report

Tobacco and vaping framework implementation plan 2023-2025: progress update

Published
3 December 2025
From
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care
ISBN
9781806435098

The Tobacco and Vaping Framework (“the Framework”), published in November 2023, set out our ambition to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034. This update provides an overview of progress on the actions set out in the 2023 to 2025 implementation plan.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Progress tracking

We are monitoring progress towards our 2034 goal through five key indicators: adult smoking prevalence, adult smoking prevalence by deprivation, maternal smoking at first antenatal appointment, and smoking and vaping behaviour in children and young people.

Smoking prevalence has steadily declined since the early 2000s, driven by policy measures such as banning smoking in public places, raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 18 and introducing display bans (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Adult smoking prevalence and key tobacco control dates in Scotland over the last 20 years (ASH Scotland).
Smoking prevalence has steadily declined since the early 2000s, driven by policy measures such as banning smoking in public places, raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 18 and introducing display bans

Current trends suggest reaching the target of 5% smoking prevalence remains challenging, despite historic progress. In 2024, Scotland’s smoking prevalence was 14% (down from 26% in 2008). Significant differences by deprivation also persist, with 23% of those in the most deprived areas (down from 38%) and 7% of those in the least deprived areas (down from 15%) reporting current use (see Figure 3).

Similar trends are observed among pregnant women. Smoking prevalence at first antenatal appointment shows a downward trend (8.2% in 2024, down from 12.3% in 2020). However, stark differences exist between quintiles, with 15.6% of women in the most deprived areas (down from 23.7%) and 1.6% (down from 2.4%) reporting current use (see Figure 4).

However, the wide-ranging opportunities included within the Tobacco and Vapes Bill combined with the actions set out above in the Framework will support us to drive progress towards our target in 2034. This will be set out in detail in the next implementation plan.

Figure 3. Smoking prevalence 2008-2024 and projected smoking prevalence towards 2034 target (Scottish Health Survey data).
Current trends suggest reaching the target of 5% smoking prevalence remains challenging, despite historic progress. In 2024, Scotland’s smoking prevalence was 14% (down from 26% in 2008). Significant differences by deprivation also persist, with 23% of those in the most deprived areas (down from 38%) and 7% of those in the least deprived areas (down from 15%) reporting current use
Figure 4. Current smoking at first antenatal appointment 2020-2024 and projections to 2034 (PHS data).
Similar trends are observed among pregnant women. Smoking prevalence at first antenatal appointment shows a downward trend (8.2% in 2024, down from 12.3% in 2020). However, stark differences exist between quintiles, with 15.6% of women in the most deprived areas (down from 38%) and 7% (down from 15%) reporting current use

A gap in regular evidence for indicators 4 and 5 for children and young people was identified as part of the first implementation plan. Work was undertaken to address this, which resulted in commissioning of a boost to the Scottish sample (from 2024) in the annual ASH SmokeFree GB Youth survey.

Data for 2024 and 2025 show a stable prevalence trend for both vaping (7.4% and 7.3% respectively) and smoking (4.4% and 4.8% respectively), consistent with data at GB level (see Figure 5).

Figure 5. Current vaping and smoking among Scottish adolescents aged 11-17 (ASH data).
Data for 2024 and 2025 show a stable prevalence trend for both vaping (7.4% and 7.3% respectively) and smoking (4.4% and 4.8% respectively), consistent with data at GB level

The key indicators will be supplemented by additional indicators to help understand progress as a result of actions under People, Product and Place of the Framework. A working group with representation from ASH (Scotland), PHS, academia and Scottish Government is currently working to finalise these.

Contact

Email: Tobaccocontrolteam@gov.scot

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