While vaping is not risk-free, it is less harmful than tobacco
This article answers common questions about vaping and its effects. A decade ago, most smokers believed vaping was safer than tobacco. Today, the opposite perception prevails: many now view vapes as equally or even more dangerous. This change in opinion is visible in public surveys and media trends.
Changing Public Sentiment
Over the last ten years, public discourse around vaping has shifted dramatically. Media coverage has increasingly portrayed vaping in a negative light. The message in popular outlets often suggests that vaping poses similar or even higher risks compared to traditional smoking.
“Look at the news, and it’s easy to see why people would think that vaping is just as bad, if not worse.”
Notably, newspapers such as The Sun, The Telegraph, and the Daily Mail have published headlines highlighting the potential harms of e-cigarettes, contributing to a wider sense of caution and skepticism.
The Popularity of Vaping
The growing popularity of e-cigarettes might also explain the backlash. In the past, public spaces were filled with the smell of tobacco smoke. Now, they often carry the sweet scent of fruit-flavored vapes — blueberry, strawberry, or apple — reflecting a cultural shift in how nicotine products are used.
Trends in Smoking and Vaping
In the United Kingdom today, almost as many adults vape as smoke — roughly one in ten. The trajectory of these habits, however, is quite different. Half of adults smoked in the 1970s, but smoking rates have since dropped dramatically. Vaping, by contrast, is a recent phenomenon, and its usage patterns continue to evolve.
You can see this contrast clearly in the available data and charts tracking both smoking and vaping trends over time.
Author’s Summary
Public opinion on vaping has reversed over the past decade, influenced by growing media scrutiny and cultural shifts, even as vaping remains statistically less harmful than tobacco.