UK Vaping Industry Association Praises PHE's Latest Vaping Report
Following PHE’s latest evidence update, UKVIA called for an end to misinformation about vaping, saying unfounded fears are preventing many smokers from switching.
According to the latest comments released by PHE, the UKVIA calls for an end to the dissemination of misinformation regarding vaping. The report titled "Vaping in England: 2020 Evidence Update Summary" points out that the "misplaced fears" surrounding vaping are preventing many smokers from quitting by switching to vaping - a fact that PHE has long recognized.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
This review is the sixth independent e-cigarette report commissioned by researchers at King's College London for PHE. It emphasizes that despite alarming media reports and unfounded concerns, more former smokers have transitioned from combustible cigarettes to vaping products, while the uptake among young people remains relatively low.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
Here are the key findings from this review:<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
"Smokers' understanding of the harms of smoking is increasingly incorrect and inconsistent with evidence. The proportion of people believing that vaping is less harmful than smoking has decreased from 45% in 2014 to 34% in 2019. These misconceptions are particularly prevalent among non-smoking smokers.<\/span><\/div>
The prevalence of vaping among pre-smoking individuals continues to rise, from 12% to 13% in 2019.<\/span><\/div>
Smoking remains the most common form among smokers and former smokers, with less than 1% of those who have never smoked.<\/span><\/div>
Between 2018 and 2019, the proportion of smokers who had never tried e-cigarette products remained at 37%.<\/span><\/div>
Over the past decade, the smoking rate among adults in England has continued to decline, reaching about 15% in 2019.<\/span><\/div>
Most adults use vaping products to help them quit smoking.<\/span><\/div>
Vapers say that banning flavored liquids will prevent them from using vaping products to help them quit smoking or reduce their smoking. It may also push current e-cigarettes towards illegal products.<\/span><\/div>
When used alone or in conjunction with approved medications, the success rate is comparable to or even higher than that of approved medications alone.<\/span><\/div>
Among never-smokers, less than 1% are current smokers.<\/span><\/div>
There is a lack of evidence regarding the prevalence of e-cigarette use during pregnancy in the UK, the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking during pregnancy and postpartum, and the effects of e-cigarettes on maternal health or pregnancy outcomes."<\/span>
Distinguishing between regular e-cigarettes and illegal products through vaporizers.<\/span><\/div>
Dunne added that the PHE report again emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between vaping regular products and vaping unregulated substances that pose various risks.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
"We welcome PHE's further emphasis that we should not equate vaping with cannabis vaping or the vaping of other illegal substances, and reiterate that the recent deaths in the US have severely impacted the vaping industry in the UK, seemingly due to the inhalation of cannabis-derived THC oil and vitamin E acetate."<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
"It is crucial that we stop all misinformation to prevent them from surfacing. As PHE summarized in its review, the public's misunderstanding of the harms of vaping is increasing, which may prevent some smokers from using vaping products to quit smoking. As their report highlights, the proportion of smokers who have never tried e-cigarette products remains at 37%, supporting this view," Dunn concluded.<\/span><\/div>
Related Articles
Vaping News
Ahead of a Nationwide Ban, Hundreds of Russian Retailers Voluntarily Stop Selling Vapes
2026-04-16
Vaping News
Illegal Vape Brands Try to Evade FDA Scrutiny by Posing as “Made in the USA”
2026-04-08
Vaping News
Jordan’s New Tobacco Control Rules: Waterpipe Tobacco Market Set for Major Changes
2026-03-17