Walk past the gates of almost any English secondary school at the end of the day and you may notice a familiar, sweet-smelling cloud. Vaping — the use of electronic cigarettes or disposable e-cigarettes — has become one of the most pressing pastoral and public health challenges facing secondary schools in England in 2026. Rates of use among young people have risen sharply since 2021, driven by the widespread availability of brightly coloured, cheap disposable vapes marketed in fruit and candy flavours.
This guide explains what vaping is, why it has spread so rapidly among secondary school pupils, what the law says, how English schools are responding, and what parents can do if they suspect their child is vaping.
According to NHS data, rates of regular vaping among 11–17 year olds in England roughly tripled between 2020 and 2024. By 2024, approximately 1 in 5 secondary school pupils reported having tried vaping, with regular use concentrated among 15–17 year olds. The rise has outpaced comparable trends in adult vaping.
What Is Vaping and Why Is It Spreading Among Young People?
Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol produced by heating a liquid (often called e-liquid or vape juice) that typically contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals. Unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes produce no combustion and no smoke — only vapour — making them easier to use discreetly in school toilets, parks, and even classrooms.
Why Are Disposable Vapes Particularly Popular?
- Cost: Disposable vapes were widely available for as little as £3–£5 before 2025 legislation began to bite, making them far more accessible than cigarettes for teenagers with limited pocket money
- Flavours: Products in flavours such as "blueberry ice", "watermelon bubblegum", and "strawberry milkshake" are explicitly designed to appeal to young palates
- Discretion: Small, pen-shaped devices are easily concealed; the vapour dissipates quickly and does not leave the persistent smell of tobacco smoke on clothing
- Social normalisation: Rapid peer adoption creates social pressure — pupils report that vaping is perceived as significantly less stigmatised than cigarette smoking in their social groups
- Misperception of harmlessness: Many young people believe vaping is "safe" or "just water vapour" — a significant misunderstanding of the evidence
What Are the Health Risks for Young People?
The long-term health effects of vaping are not yet fully understood — e-cigarettes have only been widely used for around 15 years and longitudinal data on adolescent use is limited. However, current evidence points to several specific risks for young people:
Nicotine Dependency
Most commercially available vapes contain nicotine, often in high concentrations. Nicotine is highly addictive, and adolescent brains — which are still developing until the mid-twenties — are significantly more vulnerable to addiction than adult brains. Young people who begin regular vaping frequently find it difficult to stop and may progress to higher nicotine consumption over time.
Respiratory Effects
Studies have identified associations between regular vaping and increased respiratory symptoms including coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The aerosol produced by vapes contains fine particulates and volatile organic compounds that are inhaled directly into the lungs.
Cardiovascular Impact
Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure. While the cardiovascular risks of vaping are generally considered lower than those of smoking, they are not negligible — particularly for young people with underlying cardiac conditions.
If your teenager dismisses vaping concerns with "it's just water vapour" — a common misconception — point them toward the NHS's own clear statement: vaping is not risk-free, particularly for under-18s. The NHS Stop Smoking service offers free support for young people wanting to stop, and GPs can refer to specialist services.
What Does the Law Say About Vaping and Young People?
Age of Sale
It is illegal in England to sell any vaping product — including disposable e-cigarettes — to anyone under the age of 18. It is also an offence for an adult to purchase a vaping product on behalf of someone under 18 (proxy purchasing). Retailers who sell to under-18s face fines and licence revocation.
The Disposable Vape Ban (2025)
In April 2025, England introduced a ban on the sale of single-use disposable vapes — part of a broader package of tobacco and vaping legislation under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The ban was specifically targeted at the cheap, brightly packaged disposable products that had become the dominant format for under-age vaping. Reusable vape devices remain legal for adult purchase.
Vaping on School Premises
Schools have the legal authority to prohibit vaping on their premises and to search pupils for vaping devices under the same powers that allow them to search for tobacco and alcohol. Vaping materials can be confiscated and, depending on the school's behaviour policy, their discovery can result in detention, suspension, or in persistent cases, exclusion. However, most schools prefer early intervention and education over purely punitive responses.
How Are English Secondary Schools Responding?
Schools have adopted a range of approaches, reflecting the fact that vaping is simultaneously a behaviour, a health issue, and — for nicotine-addicted pupils — a dependency challenge that purely punitive responses cannot address effectively.
| Approach | What It Involves | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Vape detectors in toilets | Sensors that detect aerosol and trigger an alert to staff | Reduces on-site vaping; does not address underlying behaviour |
| PSHE education | Factual lessons on vaping risks in Personal, Social and Health Education | Effective when delivered by trained staff, not simply as one-off talks |
| Pastoral support referrals | Pupils found vaping referred to school nurse or counsellor rather than (or alongside) sanctions | Addresses dependency and underlying causes; requires trained staff |
| Parental engagement | Letters, assemblies, and parent information evenings on vaping risks and school policy | Increases home-school consistency; parents need accurate information |
| Search and confiscation | Routine use of legal search powers; devices confiscated and not returned | Deterrent effect; must be applied consistently and lawfully |
The most effective school responses to vaping combine clear, consistently enforced boundaries with genuine health education and pastoral support for pupils who are already nicotine-dependent. Punitive-only approaches reduce on-site visibility of the problem without addressing the dependency that drives it.
What Can Parents Do?
Parents play a critical role — both in prevention and in supporting a child who is already vaping.
Prevention: Start the Conversation Early
Research on adolescent risk behaviours consistently shows that open, non-judgmental conversations with parents are one of the strongest protective factors. The conversation does not need to be a lecture — it can start with curiosity: "Have you noticed vaping at school? What do you think about it?" Asking questions rather than issuing warnings keeps communication open and allows you to understand your child's actual exposure and attitudes.
Know the Signs
Signs that a young person may be vaping include:
- Unexplained sweet or fruity smell on breath or clothing
- Increased thirst (vaping can cause mild dehydration)
- Coughing or throat irritation
- Small cylindrical devices or USB-stick-like objects found in bags or pockets
- Mood changes or irritability consistent with nicotine withdrawal (when unable to vape)
If Your Child Is Already Vaping
Reacting with anger or immediate punishment typically drives the behaviour underground rather than stopping it. A more effective approach involves:
- Staying calm and expressing concern rather than anger
- Asking questions to understand how and why they started
- Sharing accurate health information without catastrophising
- Engaging the school's pastoral team — they have experience supporting pupils through this
- Exploring NHS stop-smoking services designed for young people if dependency is established
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vaping less harmful than smoking for teenagers?
Current evidence suggests vaping carries lower risks than smoking cigarettes for adults who switch from smoking to vaping. However, for young people who have never smoked, vaping is not a harmless activity — it introduces nicotine dependency and respiratory irritants that carry their own risks. The NHS and UK Chief Medical Officers are clear that under-18s should not vape.
Can schools permanently exclude a pupil for vaping?
Permanent exclusion for vaping alone is very rare and would only be considered in cases of persistent, serious breach of school rules after other interventions had failed. In most cases, schools use fixed-term exclusion for serious incidents and pastoral support for first offences. Schools must follow statutory exclusion guidance and ensure any exclusion is proportionate and lawfully applied.
What happened to disposable vapes after the 2025 ban?
The ban on single-use disposable vapes came into effect in June 2025. Early enforcement data suggested a significant reduction in the most visible cheap products — particularly the £3–£5 brightly packaged brands — though concerns remain about online sales, counterfeit products, and the persistence of vaping culture established before the ban. Schools report that pupil access has become somewhat harder but has not been eliminated.
Are schools required to have a vaping policy?
Schools are required to have a behaviour policy that covers all prohibited items and behaviours on school premises. Most schools now explicitly include vaping in their behaviour policies and communicate this clearly to pupils and parents. If you are unsure about your child's school's approach, the policy is usually available on the school website or upon request from the school office. For more on how English schools manage behaviour and pupil wellbeing, see our guide to Bullying in Schools: How to Work With Teachers to Resolve Issues.
