A survey of more than 130,000 secondary school pupils in Wales shows youth vaping rates are falling for the first time in years. Conducted by Public Health Wales, Cardiff University, and the Welsh government, the biennial health and well-being study reveals a shift away from both e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco across secondary school cohorts.
Survey Tracks Notable Reductions in Youth Nicotine Use
Questions regarding e-cigarettes were first added to the student well-being study in 2017. The latest data shows that 9,100 students in Years 7 through 11 vape regularly, down from 12,300 in 2023. At the same time, regular cigarette smoking experienced an even sharper decline, with rates dropping to 1.8%.
| Metric (Years 7–11) | 2023 Survey Data | Latest Survey Data |
|---|---|---|
| Students Who Have Tried Vaping | 25.7% | 21.0% |
| Regular Vapers or Smokers | 8.0% | 5.9% |
| Total Regular Vapers | 12,300 pupils | 9,100 pupils |
| Total Regular Cigarette Smokers | 3,200 pupils | 1,600 pupils |
Classroom Interventions and Cultural Shifts Alter Pupil Attitudes
Students and teachers indicate that a mix of proactive health education and fading novelty has driven down interest. Jay, a 17-year-old student from Barry Sixth Form, observed that younger cohorts initially faced heavy peer pressure, but attitudes are evolving.
Harrison, a 14-year-old student and footballer at Whitmore High School, pointed out that athletic performance steers many boys away from nicotine, though online visibility remains an obstacle: "Social media comes into it, a lot of people on YouTube and TikTok do it... and people think that's cool to do."
Schools have paired health education with tighter behavioral controls. Henriette Bertheux, who oversees personal and social education at Whitmore High, stated that visual demonstrations of lung damage and stricter rules regarding bathroom breaks curbed pupils vaping in pairs between classes.
Fellow student Anabella, 14, noted that the initial social pressure has faded: "Everyone was doing it so it was a trend, and now that it's died down, less people are starting in the first place."
Gender Disparities and Illicit Market Warnings
Despite the overall reduction, data reveals that girls continue to vape at higher rates than boys. Amelie, 17, attributed this divide to product presentation: "I'd say it's because of the marketing and the product, colourful packages, flavours. I'd say vaping is more targeted towards girls than boys."
Mary-Ann McKibben from Public Health Wales highlighted how policy debates influence youth habits, citing the disposable vape ban and the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Act. However, she warned that underage users who turn to black-market sellers face elevated hazards.
"Technically young people shouldn't be able to get hold of vapes through legitimate means if they're under 18, so often they are at risk of illicit products that are sold on the black market that may contain all sorts of contents that are even more toxic than the normal vapes. So be very, very careful in terms of what you're consuming because it could really damage your health."
McKibben emphasized that ongoing cessation support remains necessary for students already dealing with nicotine addiction, ensuring that current declines translate into permanent behavioral changes.
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