Underage vaping in Manchester - we asked what you think should be done to tackle the rising problem

The use of e-cigarettes is becoming more common, with adults and children as young as 11 buying more and more vapes. We asked locals what they think of the addictive habit.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The use of vapes - also known as e-cigarettes - by young people is on the rise. Public health charity Action on Smoking and Health and King's College London found that 7 percent of teens aged 11-18 reported vape use in 2022 - an increase of 3.7 percent since 2021.

Vapes have been shown to help people quit smoking, but they are not designed for use by those that have never smoked.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A local headteacher told the BBC that vaping and the use of e-cigarettes has become "a new pandemic." Tony McCabe, who leads St Joseph's Roman Catholic High School in Bolton, said there was a rise in young people acquiring vapes illegally. He said he has installed sensors in the bathrooms to detect devices after pupils started visiting the toilets more often to vape.

We asked local people their thoughts on teenagers using vapes and e-cigarettes and what they think should be done to crack down on it.