Vaping and smoking among Scottish adolescents: ASH SmokeFree GB Youth survey 2025 results

Key findings

Use of vapes, cigarettes and other nicotine products

Vaping and smoking prevalence

Vaping prevalence and smoking prevalence in 2025 were not statistically significantly different from 2024.

In 2025, 19.5% of 11–17-year-olds said they had tried vaping, including 10.5% who only tried a vape once or twice and 7.3% who identified as current vapers (of whom 4.8% were regular vapers – vaping more than once a week).

18.1% of the sample said they had tried smoking, including 8.7% who only tried smoking once and 4.8% who identified as current smokers (of whom 2.3% were regular smokers – smoking once a week or more).

Both ever and current use of vapes and cigarettes generally increased with age (see Table 1 and Figure 1).

Ever use of vapes was more common among girls than boys (24.2% vs 15.0%).

Among current vapers, 34.5% were also current smokers (dual users).

Note small base for 11-year-olds (N=36).

Findings for 11-year-olds should be interpreted with caution given the small base (N=36).

Age at first vape and cigarette use

Adolescents who were ever vapers and smokers were asked in 2025 about the age at which they first tried vapes and cigarettes. Most reported trying their first vape between the ages of 13 and 15, while first use of a cigarette was most commonly reported between the ages of 12 and 14. These findings are presented in Table 2 below.

It is important to note that these figures do not represent the average age of initiation across the broader population. Rather, they reflect the age at which current adolescents first experimented with these products.

Order of use

Ever vapers (N=158) were asked about the order in which they tried vapes and cigarettes. 33.7% reported trying smoking a cigarette before vaping, while 16.2% said they tried a vape before a cigarette.

This finding is broadly consistent with the 2024 results, where a greater proportion of ever vapers also reported smoking cigarettes prior to vaping. However, a direct comparison between the two years is not possible due to a slight change in the question design.

Use of other nicotine products

As in 2024, a small percentage (3%) of 11–17-year-olds reported ever using nicotine pouches (i.e. tobacco-free oral products to be placed between lip and gum for nicotine absorption).

Also similar to 2024, 4.3% reported ever using shisha (i.e. water pipe used to heat tobacco usually mixed with herbs or flavourings).

Ever use of heated tobacco products (i.e. devices that heat, rather than burn, a cigarette-like stick of specially treated tobacco) was reported by 1.5% of respondents.

Products

Awareness of products

Among all respondents, awareness of vapes was high (93.7%), while only two fifths had heard of other nicotine products such as nicotine pouches (40.2%) and shisha (45.5%). These figures are similar to those reported in 2024: 92.4% for vapes, 37.9% for nicotine pouches and 40.5% for shisha.

Source of products

Access to products for those who have tried vaping or smoking is primarily through informal routes rather than purchases from retail outlets, consistent with findings from 2024. However, changes to the question wording between 2024 and 2025 affected some of the response options, meaning that findings from the two years are not directly comparable.

In 2025, among adolescents who had tried vaping, 74.3% said their first vape was given to them by someone they know (66.1% by a friend and 8.2% by a relative). 14.1% purchased the vape (7.2% from a shop, 5.2% from another person and 1.6% online). 5.1% took the vape without permission (4.6% from someone and 0.6% from a shop). 1.8% received it as a free sample from a vape company.

Among those who had tried smoking, 67.7% said their first cigarette was given to them by someone they know – mostly by a friend (62.5%) and much less by a relative (5.2%). 7.6% purchased the cigarettes (3.7% from a shop and 3.9% from another person). 14.7% took the cigarette from someone.

These findings are presented in Figure 2 below.

Among current users of vapes or cigarettes, a higher proportion reported obtaining their products from retail outlets compared to ever users. This aligns with findings from 2024, although a direct comparison is not possible due to changes in some of the response options.

Just over half of current vapers (50.9%) and of current smokers (20 out of 38) reported purchasing their products from a regulated outlet (supermarket; newsagent, tobacconist or off-licence; petrol station or garage shop; street market; vape or other type of shop; machine). A very small percentage of current vapers (1.6%) and of smokers (2 out of 38) reported buying products online (either from formal retailers or informal sources).

47.9% of current vapers and 18 out of 38 current smokers said they obtained vapes or cigarettes from someone, either by being given or by buying them.

Results for current smokers should be interpreted with caution due to the small base numbers.

While the sample size is small, it is of note that among children who reported buying cigarettes from a store, 16 out of 17 said that it was easy to do so.

Type of products

Although the base is small, there is an indication that disposable and rechargeable vapes are now used in equal proportion by current vapers (N=59). 47.2% said a disposable vape is the type of device they use most often, while 43.6% said they primarily use a rechargeable type. This compares with 61.8% and 28.2% respectively in 2024, though the change is not statistically significant.

There is also an indication that ever use of disposables may be declining. Among ever vapers, 65.0% said they had used a disposable at some point in 2025, compared to 74.5% in 2024, although this difference is also not statistically significant.

When asked about the most important factor in choosing a vape, taste was rated highest by ever vapers, with 27.5% selecting it. This was followed by ease of access (12.2%) and price (7%). Figure 3 below presents all the factors considered in the decision-making process.

Similar to 2024, when asked which flavour they use most often, the majority of current users selected fruit flavours (52.1%), followed by vanilla (7.9%), and energy or soft drink (7.7%). Tobacco was the least preferred flavour (1.7%) (see Figure 4). Additionally, nearly half of current users (44.8%) reported using ice e-liquids. These findings are similar to those from 2024.

Among current and former vapers (N=73), the data suggest a shift towards lower nicotine content in vapes. 26.6% said the most common nicotine strength they used was 20mg/ml, a decrease from 44.1% in 2024. Meanwhile, 17.8% reported using 10-19 mg/ml, an increase from 6.0% in 2024.

Although the base is small (N=38), the data suggest that, as in 2024, current smokers mostly use ready-made cigarettes (23 out of 38), or a combination of ready-made and hand-rolled cigarettes (11 out of 38). A small number (3 out of 38) said they only smoke hand-rolled cigarettes.

Advertising

Similar to 2024, among those aware of vapes, three in five respondents (61.5%) reported being exposed to vape advertising in shops. Around a quarter (26.2%) said they saw vapes promoted online, and 13.2% reported seeing them on billboards. The proportion of adolescents who saw vape advertising on buses increased to 11.4%, up from 6.9% in 2024. The proportion who saw vape advertising on TV also rose, from 5.9% in 2024 to 9.2% in 2025 (see Figure 5).

Similar to 2024, exposure to advertising in shops was higher in corner shops than in supermarkets for both vapes and cigarettes.

Among those aware of vapes and who go into corner shops (N=649), 55.7% said they notice vapes on display every time/most times and 22.1% said they see them sometimes. This compares to 29.7% and 30.7% respectively among those aware of vapes and who go into supermarkets (N=681).

Among all those who go into corner shops (N=692), 36.2% said they notice cigarettes on display every time/most times and 21.3% said they see them sometimes. This compares to 19.1% and 19.6% respectively among all those who go into supermarkets (N=725).

Social media advertising remains the primary channel through which adolescents are exposed to online vape promotion. Among those who reported seeing vapes promoted online (N=186), the majority (50.8%) said they saw them promoted on TikTok, followed by 33.5% on Instagram, 32.0% on YouTube, and 26.6% on Snapchat (see Figure 6).

Experiences and views

Reasons for vaping

Curiosity is the main driver of ever use of vapes, with the largest proportion of those who have tried vaping saying they “just wanted to give it a try” (38.1%). Other key reasons for trying vapes include peer influence (16.4%), the appeal of flavours (11.7%) and perceived coolness (5.8%) (see Figure 7).

Addiction and relative harm of vaping

Similar to 2024, the majority of current vapers considered themselves addicted: 49.5% said they were a little addicted and 8.1% very addicted, compared to 37.5% who said they were not. Additionally, 68.1% described their urge to vape as moderate to strong (see Figure 8).

Of all respondents who had heard of vapes, 13.8% believed that vaping is more harmful than smoking, while 49.5% thought vaping is equally harmful. Only 25.5% correctly identified vaping as less harmful than smoking. This is consistent with findings from 2024.

Quitting

Current vapers were asked about their willingness to quit vaping.

Just under half of respondents (45.1%) said they want to stop vaping, including a NET 21.2% who indicated they really want to. However, a similar proportion (43.6%) said they do not want to stop vaping, including 33.5% stating they think they should stop but don’t really want to, and 10.1% saying they don’t want to ever stop (see Figure 9). These figures are similar to those reported in 2024.

Current smokers were also asked about their willingness to quit smoking. Results are reported below but they should be interpreted with caution due to the small base.

More than half (24 out of 38) said they want to stop smoking, including 7 respondents who indicated they really want to quit. 10 respondents said they think they should stop smoking but don’t really want to, and one respondent said that they don’t want to ever stop smoking.

66.4% of ever smokers (N=144) agreed that if they could go back in time, they wouldn’t have started smoking.

Among ever smokers who also tried vaping (N=86), 24.3% reported using a vape during their most recent quit attempt.

Second-hand smoke

As in 2024, a small number of adolescents reported being exposed to second-hand smoke.

6.7% of all respondents said that people are allowed to smoke inside their home/house.

14% reported having travelled in a car where someone was smoking. This exposure was typically occasional (11.7%), rather than occurring most days or every day (2.3%).

Views on policy options

Similar to 2024, the majority of adolescents supported policy measures aimed at reducing vaping: 79.0% supported a ban of advertising and promotion of vapes at point of sale (at the till, in store and as people enter shops); 78.2% a ban of bright colours, cartoon characters and names of sweets on vape packaging; and 69.6% restrictions on how flavours can be described (e.g. ‘Lemon & Lime’ permitted, but not ‘Lemon & Lime Lolly’) (see Figure 10).

Current vapers were asked how their behaviour might change in response to the upcoming ban on disposable vapes, which was implemented on 1 June 2025.

When asked about their vaping behaviour, 62.4% said they would continue vaping: 39.7% would vape the same amount, 16.3% would vape less but not stop altogether, and 6.3% would vape more. Around a fifth (21.2%) said they would stop vaping. Among those who indicated they would continue to vape, 25 out of 36 said they would switch to a reusable vape, while 8 out of 36 said they would attempt to obtain illegal disposable vapes. Due to the small sample size, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Current vapers were also asked how their behaviour would change if only tobacco, menthol and mint flavours were available.

When asked about their vaping behaviour, the majority (60%) said they would continue vaping: 34.5% would vape the same amount, 20.6% would vape less but not stop, and 4.9% would vape more. Around a quarter (24.4%) said they would stop vaping altogether. Among those who said they would continue to vape, 6 out of 35 reported they would try to obtain other flavours illegally.

As in 2024, almost half of all respondents (45.3%) said the Government’s efforts to limit tobacco smoking are not enough. However, the proportion of those who felt the Government is doing about the right amount increased from 20.5% in 2024 to 26.6% in 2025.

Similar to 2024, the majority (70%) supported the recently announced legislation to raise the age of sale for tobacco, increasing it by one year every year for those born in 2009 or later, so that it will never be legal to sell tobacco to them.

There was broad support for banning smoking in various public spaces: in children’s play areas (91.9%), on school grounds (91.1%), on hospital grounds (88.1%), in public transport waiting areas (83.7%), on further education college grounds (76.5%), on university and college ground (73.8%), in the outdoor seating areas of all restaurants, pubs and cafes (71.7%), in all parks (68.9%) and on all beaches (68.1%).

Support for other measures was also high: 81.0% supported banning smoking in all cars and 77.9% supported printing health warnings on individual cigarette sticks to encourage smokers to quit. These figures are similar to those reported in 2024.

Figure 11 presents the leading policy options supported by adolescents, i.e. those receiving over 80% support.

How to access the background or source data

☒ Data are held by ASH and may be made available by them on request, subject to consideration of legal and ethical factors. Please see Action on Smoking and Health - ASH for further information.