The NHS puts it plainly: "Nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking." It also says "Children and non-smokers should never vape." Both lines matter, and here they are in full, with the myths they knock down, so you can quote the source instead of a mate's cousin.
The short version
- NHS: "Nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking."
- NHS: vaping "poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking".
- NHS: "Children and non-smokers should never vape."
- Vaping is not risk-free, and nicotine is addictive.
The headline line
On its vaping to quit smoking page, the NHS says: "Nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking." It is short and deliberate. It compares vaping with smoking; it does not say vaping is harmless.
On its vaping myths page, the NHS goes further and says vaping "poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking". The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities said much the same in 2022: "In the short and medium term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking."
Those are the sources to quote. We are a vape shop, so we will not add claims of our own; we will just point you to theirs.
What the NHS says about quitting
The NHS also talks about vaping as a way off cigarettes. Its exact words: "You're roughly twice as likely to quit smoking if you use a nicotine vape compared with other nicotine replacement products."
That is the NHS's statement, based on the evidence it reviews, not a promise from us. Everyone's experience is different, and if you smoke and want to stop, the NHS website is the place to start.
Nicotine is addictive, whatever form it comes in, so if you vape, it pays to be thoughtful about strength. UK e-liquids top out at 20mg/ml, and many vapers step down over time.
Source: nhs.uk: vaping to quit smoking; vaping myths and the facts; OHID 2022
Who should not vape
The NHS is just as clear on the other side: "Children and non-smokers should never vape." That is the line we stand behind too. Vapes are for adults, and the point of the NHS comparison is vaping versus smoking, not vaping versus nothing.
It is also why the law keeps tightening on age. Selling nicotine vapes to under-18s is an offence, and from 29 October 2026 the 18+ sale rule covers all vapes, nicotine-free included. Read more in our guide to age of sale and proxy buying.
Tap the answer that applies to you.
Do you currently smoke?
The NHS says nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking. Its vaping to quit smoking page is the place to read more.
The NHS says non-smokers should never vape. That applies to nicotine-free vaping too.
The perception gap
Despite the NHS position, plenty of people believe the opposite. ASH's Smokefree GB survey from July 2026 found that 52% of smokers think vaping is as harmful as smoking, or more harmful.
That gap between the official line and public belief is why we bother quoting the NHS word for word. Headlines tend to lump vaping and smoking together, and the nuance gets lost.
The flip cards below take the most common beliefs and set them against the NHS's actual wording. For the full picture on one of the biggest, read our guide to the popcorn lung myth.
Not risk-free
None of these NHS lines say vaping is safe, and we will not say it either. "Less harmful than smoking" and "a small fraction of the risks" are comparisons. The OHID line is also specific about the timescale: the short and medium term.
What you can control as a vaper is what you buy. Genuine products in the UK have to meet rules on nicotine strength, bottle and tank size, child-resistant packaging and MHRA notification. Our guides to TPD rules and MHRA notification explain what that means on the shelf.
Here is the short version to keep in mind.
Quick quiz
One question to check you could quote the NHS correctly if someone at a barbecue starts on about vaping.
The wording matters. The NHS does not say vaping is harmless, and it does not say it is as bad as smoking. It says it is less harmful than smoking, a small fraction of the risks, and that children and non-smokers should never do it. All three parts together are the honest picture. For more on vapour around other people, read second-hand vapour: what the evidence says.
Bookmark the original NHS pages too.
Which of these is an exact NHS line about vaping?
Quick answers
What does the NHS say about vaping vs smoking?
The NHS says "Nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking" and that vaping "poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking".
Does the NHS say vaping is safe?
No. It says nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking, and that children and non-smokers should never vape.
What percentage of smokers think vaping is as harmful as smoking?
ASH's July 2026 survey found 52% of smokers think vaping is as harmful as smoking or worse.
