Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38897583›Full record

ArticleAddiction (Abingdon, England)2025

Nicotine strength of e-liquids used by adult vapers in Great Britain: A population survey 2016 to 2024.

Sarah E Jackson, Jamie Brown, Lion Shahab, Deborah Arnott, Linda Bauld, Sharon Cox

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sarah E JacksonDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-5658-6168
Jamie BrownDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-2797-5428
Lion ShahabDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-4033-442X
Deborah ArnottDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7116-0974
Linda BauldSPECTRUM Consortium, United Kingdom.
Sharon CoxDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-8494-5105

Funding

Cancer Research UK PRCRPG-Nov21\100002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsIn March 2024, the UK government announced plans to introduce a Vaping Products Duty that will tax e-liquids based on their nicotine strength. This study examined trends in the nicotine strength of e-liquids used by adult vapers and differences in those currently used across relevant subgroups.

designNationally-representative, cross-sectional household survey, July 2016 to January 2024.

settingGreat Britain.

participants7981 adult vapers. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked whether the e-cigarette they mainly use contains nicotine (yes/no) and the e-liquid strength (no nicotine, >0-≤ 6, 7-11, 12-19 or ≥20 mg/ml). We also collected information on the main device type used (disposable/refillable/pod), age, gender, occupational social grade, history of ≥1 mental health conditions, smoking status and (among past-year smokers) level of cigarette addiction.

findingsThe proportion of vapers in England using high-strength (≥20 mg/ml) e-liquids increased from an average of 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9-5.0) up to June 2021 to 32.5% (CI = 27.9-37.4) in January 2024 (the vast majority of whom [93.3% in January 2024] reported using exactly 20 mg/ml; the legal limit). This rise was most pronounced among those using disposable e-cigarettes, those aged 18-24 years and all smoking statuses (including never smokers) except long-term (≥1y) ex-smokers. Of those surveyed in 2022-2024 in Great Britain, overall, 89.5% (CI = 88.1-90.8) said they usually used e-cigarettes containing nicotine, 8.7% (CI = 7.5-10.0) used nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and 1.8% (CI = 1.2-2.4) were unsure. The proportion using ≥20 mg/ml was higher among those mainly using disposable (47.9%) compared with pod (16.3%) or refillable (11.5%) devices; never smokers (36.0%), current smokers (28.8%) or recent (<1y) ex-smokers (27.4%), compared with long-term ex-smokers (13.9%); and younger (16-24y; 44.2%) compared with older (≥25y; range 9.4-25.1%) age groups. There were no notable differences across other subgroups of interest.

conclusionsUse of high-strength nicotine e-liquids in England appears to have increased sharply in recent years. Most adult vapers in Great Britain appear to use e-cigarettes that contain nicotine but different subgroups use different strengths: nicotine strengths tend to be higher among those who mainly use disposable devices and those aged 16-24y, and lower among long-term ex-smokers.

Indexed as

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsNicotineVapingAdolescentAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUnited KingdomYoung AdultNicotinedisposable vapese‐cigarettese‐cigarette taxvapingvaping dutyvaping tax

Identifiers

PMID38897583
PMCPMC11813722

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.