RESEARCH ALERT
Some vapes use added chemicals to create a cold or icy feeling. New research has raised concerns about three of them: WS-23, WS-3 and WS-5. We do not yet know how common they are in Wales.
Information / Vaping
Vaping in Wales: the useful facts
Vaping is not risk-free, but it is significantly less harmful than smoking and is effective for helping adults who smoke to quit. Children, young people and people who do not smoke should not start vaping. For more detail, see vaping side effects & health effects.
Last reviewed: 30th September 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Smoking is the bigger risk.
If you already smoke, switching completely to vaping can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.
Latest Wales picture: 10% of people aged 16+ reported currently using e-cigarettes in 2024–25. Use was 16% among people aged 16–44 and 23% among people living in social housing. These are National Survey for Wales prevalence estimates, not measures of harm or quitting effectiveness. A separate ASH Wales/YouGov survey of adults aged 18+ in 2026 found 12% currently vaping, including 30% of current smokers. Among adults who vape, 39% said their main reason was to stop smoking, cut down or stay off tobacco; among adults aware of vapes, 54% believed vaping was as harmful as or more harmful than smoking. Read the full 2026 survey. Welsh Government source ↗
Looking for information written for young people?
Start in our youth area for straight answers about vaping, nicotine, pressure, products, social media and getting help.
What do you want to know?
I smoke and want to quit
See how vaping can fit into a quit attempt and why stopping cigarettes completely matters.
I’m worried about a young person
Go straight to practical support for parents, carers and youth settings.
I want the rules
Read about illegal products, underage sales and reporting routes.
I want to stop vaping
If you vape and do not smoke, see NHS guidance on reducing or stopping without moving back to cigarettes.
What is vaping?
Vapes are electronic devices that heat an e-liquid to create an aerosol that is inhaled. E-liquids usually contain propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine and flavourings, and many contain nicotine.
Unlike cigarettes, vapes do not burn tobacco. They do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging components of tobacco smoke.
What’s in a vape? explains the ingredients and aerosol in more detail. Second-hand vaping looks at what current evidence says about exposure to exhaled aerosol.
Three things to remember
- Less harmful than smoking does not mean harmless.
- Nicotine is addictive, but most smoking harm comes from burning tobacco.
- For smokers, switching completely matters. Continuing to smoke alongside vaping keeps the harms of smoking.
Young people and vaping in Wales
New 2025 School Health Research Network data, published by Public Health Wales on 22nd September 2026, shows regular vaping among secondary-school learners in Wales fell compared with 2023. The survey involved more than 130,000 learners in Years 7 to 11. Read the Public Health Wales update ↗
That is encouraging, but youth vaping still matters. Nicotine can create dependence, and products can be designed and promoted in ways that appeal to young people.
If you find a vape in a child’s room or bag
You do not need to identify every product yourself. Parent Support explains what common products look like, how to start the conversation and what to do if you think something is illegal.
Current rules and illegal products
Some rules are changing in 2026, so this page keeps the overview short and points you to the detailed guidance.
Single-use vapes
Single-use vapes have been banned from sale and supply in Wales since 1st June 2025. Reusable and refillable vapes can still be sold where they meet the rules.
Changes from 29th October 2026
From 29th October 2026, the age of sale will be 18 for all vaping and nicotine products. The new rules also cover proxy purchasing, promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts.
Concerned about illegal or underage sales?
You do not need proof and you should not confront a seller. You can share what you know anonymously through No Ifs. No Butts.
If vaping is part of your quit attempt
The priority is to stop smoking completely. Help Me Quit can help you compare vaping, NRT and stop-smoking medicines and build a plan around what works for you.