New nicotine products increasingly popular among teenagers

A survey conducted by the BVA Institute on behalf of the Alliance Against Tobacco highlights the steady increase in awareness of new nicotine products among 13-16 year-olds (e-cigarettes, disposable e-cigarettes or puffs, nicotine sachets and beads). The results also show that these products are highly accessible, particularly in tobacconists, corroborating the conclusions of studies conducted by the National Committee Against Tobacco for nearly 15 years.

The study is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adolescents aged 13 to 16, interviewed between August 29 and September 9, 2024.[1].

Product awareness has been on the rise for several years

All new nicotine products have gained significant awareness among adolescents in recent years. In 2024, more than eight out of ten young people say they have already heard of disposable e-cigarettes (81%), 11 points more than in the previous survey in 2023. Although less popular, nicotine pouches and beads are observing a similar trend, with 30% (+11 points) and 21% (+6 points) young people now aware of these new products, respectively.

E-cigarette use is becoming more common among adolescents

The initiation to electronic cigarettes, whether disposable or not, has exceeded that of cigarettes and rolling tobacco. Overall, 18% of young people aged 13-16 report having used disposable electronic cigarettes at least once, including 4% regularly. In 2022, this proportion was 13%. For classic electronic cigarettes, 16% of adolescents report having already used them, including 3% regularly. The consumption of nicotine pouches and beads remains at low levels, since 97% of 13-16 year-olds report never having used these products.

Flavors and social networks influence purchasing motivation

The survey also notes that the flavors offered in e-cigarettes and disposable e-cigarettes are the primary factor in encouraging purchases for adolescents. For nicotine pouches and beads, the primary reason given by young people to motivate a potential purchase of these products is their consumption by third parties on social networks. Adolescents also report high exposure to tobacco and nicotine products on the internet, with a quarter of respondents saying they see sequences of e-cigarette and disposable e-cigarette consumption at least once a week on social networks. Although lower, this weekly exposure is nevertheless also reported by 11% of 13-16 year-olds for shisha, 6% for heated tobacco, and 4% for nicotine beads and pouches.

Accessible products, particularly in the tobacconist network

Tobacco shops remain the preferred place for adolescents to purchase cigarettes and rolling tobacco, since 57% of young people who indicated having already consumed these products mentioned having made at least one purchase from a retailer. For e-cigarettes and puffs, tobacconists and vape shops are cited by approximately six out of 10 adolescents. These results are consistent with the various studies conducted, in particular that of the National Committee against Smoking, which demonstrated the very high accessibility of tobacco and nicotine products for adolescents, particularly from tobacconists. The survey also notes that purchasing tobacco and nicotine products from friends or acquaintances is one of the methods preferred by adolescents (between 32 and 46% of respondents), far ahead of purchases on the internet or outside the establishment.

[1] Alliance against tobacco, Perception and use of new tobacco and nicotine products among 13-16 year-olds, 21/11/2024, (accessed 25/11/2024)