E-cigarette use by children concerns fuelled by research

E-cigarettes are seen by Welsh ministers as a 'gateway' to tobacco smoking

Three times as many children have tried e-cigarettes as have smoked tobacco, according to official figures.

It has reinforced concerns that using the devices could become a "gateway" to smoking cigarettes.

The study found 6% of 10 to 11-year-olds in Wales said they had used e-cigarettes, compared to 2% who had smoked tobacco.

Children who tried e-cigarettes were seven times more likely to say they might start smoking within two years.

They were also more likely to use e-cigarettes if their parents were smokers.

'Re-normalise' smoking

The vast majority of children who had tried e-cigarettes had never tried tobacco, according to the latest Childhood Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (CHETS) study.

But the study found evidence to suggest that e-cigarette use may lead children to smoke tobacco.

E-cigarette use by 10 to 11-year-olds

• Overall, 6% of children say they have ever used an e-cigarette, compared to 2% who have ever smoked a tobacco cigarette

• 8% of children whose parents smoke had tried an e-cigarette, compared to 3% of children of non-smokers

• 14% of non-smoking children who had tried an e-cigarette said they might start smoking in the next two years, compared to 2% of children who had not used such a device.

Source: CHETS study

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "These latest findings shine further light on the potential impact of e-cigarettes on our children and young people.

"I am concerned the use of e-cigarettes may act as a gateway to and re-normalise smoking, especially for a generation who have grown up in a largely smoke-free society."

The study also found that fewer children were being exposed to second-hand smoke in cars and their homes.

Exposure to smoke for 10 to 11-year-olds

• 9% of children said in 2014 that smoking was allowed in their family vehicle, down from 18% in 2008

• For smoking families, it was down from 35% to 20%

• 4% of children said they had been exposed to smoke in a car the previous day, down from 7% in 2008

• The proportion of children with at least one smoking parent fell from 33% to 22%

Source: CHETS study