The use of high-concentration vapes has risen sharply in the UK in recent years. The researchers warned that taxation of high-concentration goods may affect the effects of smoking. Advised careful consideration of policy implications.
UK increased tenfold in three years — vape
News reported on June 20 that British researchers have found that the use of high-concentration vapes has risen sharply in recent years.
An academic at University College London (UCL) said that a significant proportion of vape users choose to obtain the highest concentration of vapes allowed by law. The researchers surveyed data from nearly 8,000 vape users between July 2016 and January 2024 and asked whether vapes contained smoke tar and smoked tar.
Vapes averaged 3.8% from July 2016 to June 2021
In England, the proportion of customers using high-concentration vapes averaged 3.8% from July 2016 to June 2021, rising to 33% in January 2024. According to the publication Addiction. The majority of users of the highest-strength vapes (93%) use vapes containing 20mg/mL of smoke tar, which is the upper limit allowed by law.
The increase in disposable vape use was “most pronounced” among young people aged 18-24.
The researchers said that high-concentration vapes are consistent with the growing popularity of disposable vapes. Even so, the researchers suggested that taxing vape brands based on their tar strength could have “unintended consequences”.
The academics warned that taxing high-strength e-cigarettes could discourage smokers from trying to quit with vapes, or encourage them to use low-strength e-cigarette oils, which could “sabotage cessation of smoking and continue smoking.” They also noted that the tax on recommended vape brands may discourage young vape users from switching from trial to regular use.
Scholars have expressed their views
Dr. Sarah Jackson, UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, said:
- “Our research shows a dramatic increase in the use of high-concentration smoke tar e-cigarettes in England since 2021. Smoke tar may be addictive, but it is not responsible for most of the damage smoking causes to health. For smokers who need to quit, using vapes with higher concentrations of smoke tar is more efficient as it satisfies their cravings more quickly and effectively improves withdrawal symptoms.”
- “Imposing a higher tax rate on products with high concentrations of smoke tar would make. The most effective method of quitting smoking is more expensive. This could drive people who use e-cigarettes to convert them to lower-concentration smoke-treated e-liquids. Which in turn could potentially undermine efforts to quit smoking.”
- We found that in the past year, about smokers quit and started using vapes. And 40 percent of those who did say their use of these products would be subject. The highest proposed tax,” he said.
Dr. Sharon Cox is a senior author at the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health. (Dr Sharon Cox) said:
- “Taxing products based on the strength of the smoke tar could also lead to people using less concentrated and cheaper e-cigarettes and absorbing more of them, as people who are dependent on smoke tar will change their behavior to get the required dose of smoke tar in their body. As a result, the total number of e-cigarette oils used may increase, as will the exposure to potentially toxic substances.”
Deborah Arnott, CEO of Action on Smoking Control Health (Ash), said:
- “Regardless of the nicotine content. The best way to curb the uptake of e-cigarettes by minors is to make all e-cigarettes less appealing and increase the sale price. These are policies that discourage kids from trying smoking for the first time. However, we also need to ensure that vapes remain an effective smoking cessation tool for adults. Smokers should not be persuaded to use vapes with high nicotine content, which can be an effective aid to quitting.”
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