With the ban on disposable vapes now in force, new research finds this could lead more than 1 in 5 (23%) London vapers to go back to smoking.

That’s according to new research by the life insurance experts at Confused.com, based on London adults who currently vape. It found that over a third (43%) planned to quit vaping post-ban. Of those, almost 1 in 10 (7%) claim they’ll use nicotine products to help them stop.

But worryingly, more people plan to keep vaping than quit. Almost a third (30%) claim the ban on disposables will encourage them to switch to refillable vapes.

It seems vaping and smoking is a habit on the rise. New data from Confused.com shows a 44% increase(2) in the number of people declaring they smoke or vape on their life insurance policy since 2019.

Why did people in the London start vaping?

According to the data, 1 in 5 (21%) people who vape started to help them stop smoking – and no longer smoke at all. . However, 1 in 2 (50%) claim they started vaping for the same reason, but still smoke as well.

At what age did people start vaping and how much are they spending on them?

Half of London vapers (50%) started between the ages of 18-25. More than 1 in 5 (23%) began between 26-30, around 1 in 10 (15%) between 31-40, and over 1 in 10 (13%) started at 41 or older.

Around 1 in 2 (54%) vapers spent up to £20 per week on disposables, whilst 4% spent more than £50.

In terms of quitting support, around 2 in 5 (41%) say what’s currently available is adequate, but more than 1 in 5 (22%) weren’t aware that support exists at all, prompting Confused.com to share key resources for those looking to quit:

Bupa: https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/is-vaping-harmful

NHS:https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/
Smoke Free: https://smokefree.gov/quit-vaping-resources

Tom Vaughan, life insurance expert at Confused.com comments, “It’s refreshing to see that many people who vape are using the ban as a springboard to try to quit for good. Particularly with the financial and health implications of maintaining the habit. We’ve had a significant increase in smokers’ policies for life insurance, which are extremely important for family security and future prospects.

When applying for life insurance, it’s important that smokers or vapers declare their habit, as it could impact policies due to the long-term health impact. For further information, please visit our site here: https://www.confused.com/life-insurance/guides/life-insurance-for-smokers”