UK Government's "E-cigarettes Are Less Harmful" Message Drives Uptake
E-cigarette Use Rises in South Korea... Notably in Seoul and Sejong
For the first time in history, the rate of e-cigarette use in the United Kingdom has surpassed that of regular cigarettes. This shift is seen as a fundamental change in nicotine consumption habits in the UK, which has long been a center of traditional smoking culture.
UK: E-cigarette Use at 10%... Surpasses Regular Cigarettes for the First Time
The BBC and medical news outlet Medscape reported on December 19 (local time) that, according to the latest data released by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), the e-cigarette usage rate among those aged 16 and older has reached 10.0%. During the same period, the rate of regular cigarette use fell to 9.1%. For the first time since statistics have been compiled, e-cigarette use has overtaken regular cigarette use. The ONS described this as "an unprecedented event since the start of data collection."
In terms of population, this translates to approximately 5.4 million e-cigarette users and 4.9 million regular cigarette smokers. E-cigarette use was particularly prominent among young people aged 18 to 24. Analysts attribute this change to the UK government's relatively permissive policy of allowing e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid, the spread of disposable e-cigarettes, and marketing focused on fruit and dessert flavors.
However, health experts warn that the long-term effects of e-cigarettes have not yet been sufficiently verified, cautioning that "the younger generation is becoming the subject of a massive biological experiment." There is also criticism that the message from Public Health England (PHE) stating "e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than regular cigarettes" has led to the perception of e-cigarettes as a relatively low-risk recreational product.
South Korea: Overall Smoking Rate Decreases... E-cigarette Use on the Rise
A similar trend is being observed in South Korea. According to the "2025 Community Health Survey" released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the regular cigarette smoking rate this year was 17.9%, down 1.0 percentage point from the previous year. In contrast, the e-cigarette usage rate rose by 0.6 percentage points to 9.3%. As a result, the combined usage rate of all tobacco products (regular and e-cigarettes) slightly decreased to 22.1%.
By region, Seoul and Sejong City had relatively low overall tobacco product usage rates, but ranked among the highest nationwide in e-cigarette use. Seoul saw higher rates of liquid-type e-cigarette use, while Sejong stood out for its use of heated tobacco products. Experts analyze that this is not a reduction in the number of smokers, but rather a phenomenon of smokers "switching" from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Factors such as the proportion of women and young people, the lifestyle environment centered on new towns, and the accessibility of e-cigarettes have all played a role.
An official from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency told Yonhap News, "The usage rate of liquid-type e-cigarettes is relatively high among women, adolescents, and smokers in their 20s," and explained, "The high usage rate of this type in Seoul is attributed to the large number and high proportion of women and young people in the city." The official also stated, "The high rate of heated tobacco product use in Sejong is because there are many people in their 30s and 40s raising children in these new cities, and those who are conscious of odor and secondhand smoke have switched from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes."
Regarding the decision to begin releasing regional and tobacco product type-specific usage rates in the report starting this year, the official said, "The aim is not to become complacent just because the overall smoking rate is low, but to emphasize the need for detailed anti-smoking initiatives tailored to the target regions," and stressed, "It is important to understand the characteristics of tobacco product use by region and implement customized anti-smoking policies accordingly."
Malaysia Moves to Completely Ban E-cigarettes
Meanwhile, Malaysia has shifted toward strong regulation of e-cigarettes. The Malaysian Ministry of Health recently announced plans to implement a complete ban on e-cigarettes by the end of next year at the latest. Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa emphasized, "There has been an increase in cases of illegal substances such as synthetic cannabis being inhaled through e-cigarettes," and stated, "The issue is not whether to ban them, but when to implement the ban."
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