More than one million people who have never smoked are now vaping, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figure raises questions about why vaping is attracting people who have no previous experience of smoking.
Vaping is often associated with people who use e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco. However, the ONS figure indicates that a substantial number of users have never been smokers. The supplied information does not state how many people are included in the wider vaping population or what proportion are former smokers.
It also provides no breakdown of the reasons never-smokers began vaping. No details are given about the products being used, the length of time people have vaped, or whether users consider themselves dependent on nicotine.
The figures highlight the need to understand the factors behind vaping among people who have not previously smoked. Further information would be needed to establish the ages, locations and circumstances of those users, as well as whether patterns differ between groups.
The latest position available from the supplied material is that more than one million never-smokers vape. No further data, official explanation or policy response is provided.
