Are Older Smokers Being Overlooked in Regulation Debate?
Older adults are the group most likely to use vaping as a route out of smoking, yet current policy debates risk overlooking their needs. New Haypp research shows that over-55s rely on vapes to quit cigarettes and report feeling health benefits after switching.
Key Takeaways
- Over-55s are the age group most likely to use vapes to quit smoking.
- 87% of vapers aged 55+ began vaping specifically to give up cigarettes.
- Older adults report the strongest health improvements after switching.
- They support policymakers recognising vaping as a quit aid.
- Communication limits may stop older smokers accessing helpful quit information.
Over 55s Mostly Likely to Use Vapes to Quit
Much of the debate on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is focused on restricting youth access to vapes.
While there are legitimate concerns around underage access to vapes, the introduction of broad-based restrictions on communicating about vapes or bans may inadvertently exclude older segments of the population and impact the number of older smokers switching to vapes.
Research from Haypp indicates that older vapers (those 55 and over) began using vapes primarily to quit cigarettes. 87% of vapers aged 55 and over say they started vaping to give up smoking.
This compares with:
- 49% of 45- to 54-year-olds
- 34% of 35 to 44 year olds
- 28% of 25 to 34 year olds
- Just 18% of 18 to 24 year olds
This shows a significant divergence in motivation between generations.
Older Vapers Report Strong Wellbeing Benefits
Over-55s are also the age cohort most likely to feel positive after switching from cigarettes.
- 92% say they feel better since making the switch.
- More than half (55%) cite “feels healthier” as the main advantage of vaping—the highest proportion of any age group.
This suggests that their motivations are grounded in wellbeing rather than peer influence or cost.
This cohort was also the most likely to believe policymakers should consider vaping as a good way to quit smoking.
- 45% agree with this statement, compared to an average of 24% across other age groups.
Why This Matters for Health and Public Policy
With potentially longer histories of cigarette use and so higher risks from smoking-related illnesses, older adults have a great deal to gain from giving up smoking.
Despite this, they seem to have been largely overlooked in the policy debate.
Recent research indicates that UK smokers are increasingly moving away from daily cigarette smoking towards vaping or non-daily smoking.
However, older adults are less likely to have moved away from daily smoking and are more likely to retain traditional smoking habits.
To make informed decisions about switching from cigarettes, older adults need access to accurate information about alternative nicotine products.
A Call for Targeted Restrictions Instead of a Blanket Ban
Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Haypp, comments:
“Older adults have largely been absent from the policy conversation, and this needs to change.
Our data makes it clear just how important the experience of older adults ought to be when the government considers the impact advertising bans or communication restrictions as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
We need to address issues like youth access through targeted measures such as robust age-gating technology and strict enforcement measures.
Blanket restrictions on communicating about vapes or other alternative nicotine products will only serve to exclude older people and limit their ability to make informed choices.”
