Underage vaping is on the rise: Parenting tips to help your child say no

Gone are the days of a cigarette behind the bike shed. E-cigarettes, or vapes, are now exploding in popularity across the UK. Vaping has become commonplace, including in playgrounds and school toilets, where children are reportedly hiding from teachers to get their nicotine hit. Recent data from the Action on Smoking (ASH) shows that the experimental use of e-cigarettes has increased by 50% among 11 to 17 year olds from 2022 to 2023. 

Understandably, parents and carers are concerned about the health impacts vaping could have on their teenagers. 

Whilst it can be hard to spot the signs that your child is vaping, there are ways as a parent you can support them to say no to peers, and manage any concerns around vaping.

Because of the high prevalence of vaping amongst young people, teenagers will likely be exposed to vape products as they grow up. As a parent, you can equip your child with the skills to make an informed decision about vaping, and to build the confidence to say no. There are three key ways you can do this. 

1. Be curious, not furious

Open communication is key to helping your child educate themselves and feel comfortable discussing vaping with you or other family members.  Start encouraging such regular, honest conversations when your child is young, if you can.

To encourage positive conversations, it can help to educate yourself first on the health and social impacts of vaping. 

By doing so, you’ll be better placed to discuss with your teenager the risks associated with vaping, or direct them to reputable information or websites. This can help them to make an informed decision and understand the reasoning behind your stance on vaping. 

It is important to say here, risk taking is a normal part of teenagers’ behaviour, and it's essential parents do not feel they are failing if their child has tried vaping, or regularly vapes.

At Triple P, we say ‘Be curious, not furious’. Try not to overreact if you find out they, or their friends, are vaping. This will only serve to close down conversations around vaping, making them less likely to talk to you if they are feeling peer pressure, or are looking to quit. 

2. Saying no to friends 

For many young people, it is easier to say yes to risk taking like vaping, cigarettes or alcohol, than to expose themselves to judgement from peers. For this reason, it can be helpful to come up with a plan with your teen on how they can deal with peer pressure to help them prepare should a situation arise. 

One thing that could help is thinking up a line they can use to turn down the offer of a vape, whilst they gain confidence to say no outright. This could be something along the lines of ‘I’m concerned about asthma’, ‘I’m worried it will affect my sport’ or ‘I want to save money for a concert’. 

3. Set expectations together

Whilst peer pressure is influential, so is family. By talking about vaping together, you can make your values and opinions on the topic clear. 

Have a conversation with your family about what your expectations are around vaping both at home, and whilst your children are with their friends. 

If they are not vaping, then remember to praise them for their continued efforts and for having a plan to manage peer pressure. If they are vaping, you can direct them to a reliable resource and offer a reward or incentive to reduce their habit, or to help them stop.

But by praising and rewarding your child for their continued positive behaviour, you are building a good foundation for the future and any further issues that may arise.

For more information, you can visit Teen Triple P Online. 

With these tips you can help support your child and manage concerns around vaping. If you are concerned about getting your teen to quit vaping, you can also seek support from your local GP or a health professional. This is one of many similar conversations you are likely to have as your teenager grows up, and these tips can help you to form trust and communication with your child, making other similar challenges easier as they come down the line.