Young people take action on vaping

Two proactive young Youthwatch volunteer recognised the impact that vaping was having on their peers and wanted to take action. 

They developed a series of questions to explore how much young people understood about the risks and dangers of vaping, and to gather ideas on how to improve the information and advice available to them. 

The survey was distributed to all high schools and sixth form colleges in Hampshire via email and was also promoted on social media. It opened on 3 July 2025 and closed on 30 September 2025.  

In total, 387 responses were received from young people aged 11 to 20 and above. 

The findings show that most young people learn about vaping through school, but the information often fails to make a lasting impact. Social media and friends play a strong role in shaping attitudes, while conversations at home are far less common.  

Although many young people felt that teenagers are generally aware of the risks, they also spoke about peer pressure, addiction, mental health issues and social image as being major reasons why young people continue to vape. 

They don’t feel that current information is sufficient and suggested more engaging and relatable education, stronger regulation and better support services would help their peers make better choices. 

Overall, the results indicate that while many young people are aware of the risks, current information is not enough to change behaviour, and more impactful approaches are needed. 

Read our report:

Vaping report Dec 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 1.63MB

Watch a summary here.