Young people and vaping
Find out more about support to stop vaping if you're a young person.
What is a vape
Vapes, or an e-cigarette, work by heating e-liquid into vapour that is inhaled.
E-liquid typically contains:
- propylene glycol
- vegetable glycerine
- flavourings
- nicotine.
Nicotine is addictive. Once you start using vapes with nicotine in, it can be difficult to stop.
Vaping to quit smoking
Vaping is not risk free but it can be a helpful tool to support adults to stop smoking. This is because vapes:
- provide nicotine without the harms of tobacco
- replace the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking
- help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms from smoking.
If you do not smoke, you should not vape.
Vaping in pregnancy
Vaping is safer than smoking if you're pregnant.
Nicotine patches or gum are the safest alternative to smoking and vaping.
You can talk to your midwife or stop smoking adviser for support in pregnancy.
Vaping around others
You should not vape around:
- babies
- children
- people with breathing problems, such as asthma.