(A smoke-free Wales: Our long-term tobacco control strategy, 2023)

The use of e-cigarettes has increased in recent years as a recreational product or as an aid to quitting smoking. The National Survey for Wales reported that 6% of adults (16+) were regularly using e-cigarettes in 2021-22. The Schools Health Research Network reported that 5% of children and young people aged 11-16 described themselves as regular (at least weekly) users in 2021, up from 3% in 2019. However, the proportion reporting ever trying e-cigarettes fell from 24.5% to 20.4% in the same period.

Whilst there is some evidence that e-cigarettes may help some smokers to reduce or eliminate their dependence on tobacco, the health outcomes of e-cigarette use over time, especially in young people, are not clear, and those who are not smokers should be strongly discouraged from using them.