Report: E-cig use more common in under 15s than tobacco

12% of 11-16 year olds have used an e-cigarette at least once. Credit: PA

Primary school children in Wales are more likely to use E-cigarettes than tobacco, according to a new survey.

The research published in the British Medical Journal shows 6% of 10-11-year-olds and 12% of 11-16 year olds have used an e-cigarette at least once.

It is only among 15-16 year-old pupils where the percentage having ever smoked, overtakes the percentage of those who have ever used an e-cigarette.

The research, which was carried out by Cardiff University on behalf of the Welsh Government, used data from two national surveys undertaken in 2013-14 among primary and secondary school pupils.

Other findings include:

  • Primary school children were more likely to have used e-cigarettes than tobacco

  • More pupils reported having ever used e-cigarettes than tobacco across all age groups until age 14-15

  • 12% of secondary school students reported ever using e-cigarettes, with no differences according to gender, ethnicity or social background

  • The percentage of 'never smokers' reporting having used an e-cigarette was 5% at age 10-11 and 8% at age 15-16