UKVIA calls for a changed vaping policy as UK smoking rates fall
UKVIA urges the UK Government to rethink vaping rules after ONS data shows smoking rates fell to a record low.Summary
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has called on the UK Government to change its approach to vaping regulation after new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed a drop in UK smoking rates. Around 4.9 million adults in the UK (9.8% of the population) smoked in 2025, down from 10.6% in 2024, continuing a long-term decline of 10.4% since 2011. E-cigarette use remained broadly stable, with about 5.4 million adults (9.9%) vaping daily or occasionally in 2025.
UKVIA warned that current Government plans, including the new Vaping Products Duty that could raise vaping product costs by as much as 264%, risk stifling progress and pushing users back to smoking or the black market. John Dunne, director general at UKVIA, cited a survey in which 50% of nearly 3,500 adult vapers feared the duty would send them back to smoking, and a Centre for Economics and Business Research estimate that 946,000 vapers and dual users could switch exclusively to smoking, creating £306.6m in additional healthcare and productivity costs.
UKVIA called for a "Fair Deal for Vaping" that protects young people, cracks down on rogue retailers, and preserves vaping's public health benefits through a proportionate approach to packaging, advertising, display, flavours, and an urgent review of the VPD rate.
(Source：Scottish Grocer & Convenience Retailer)
