Is vaping the future of smoking cessation?

Two decades ago, nicotine patches and gums ruled the quit-smoking scene. In 2025, the conversation has shifted: can vaping finish the job for good? Fresh data from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Sweden suggests it might. Below we unpack the numbers, the policies and the remaining concerns.

The global push to go smoke-free

Most Western nations now aim for smoke-free status—defined as adult smoking prevalence under 5 percent—by 2030 or earlier. Harm-reduction advocates argue that vaping is essential to meet those deadlines. Critics fear long-term unknowns. Let’s see what the evidence says in 2025.

United Kingdom: swap to stop momentum

• Current daily smoking rate (2024): 12.7 percent: down from 14.1 percent in 2021, the fastest drop since records began.
• NHS “Swap to Stop” kits (Jan–Jun 2025): 220,000 issued: early follow-up shows 54 percent remained smoke-free at 12 weeks.
• Disposable ban impact (June 2025): quitline calls up 8 percent: many smokers switched to refillable pod kits instead of relapsing.

The UK’s strategy pairs free vape kits with behavioural support—something patches struggled to achieve at scale. Public Health England’s 95 percent-less-harm estimate still stands after its 2024 evidence review, reinforcing vaping’s role.

New Zealand: vaping fuels the Smokefree 2025 goal

• Daily smoking (2024): 6.0 percent: halved since 2018, largely credited to vaping access and Māori-focused quit programmes.
• Legislative tweak (March 2025): flavour restrictions softened: to keep vapes attractive to adult smokers after youth-access clampdowns.
• Hospital admissions for smoking-related disease: down 11 percent: Ministry of Health links decline to vaping uptake.

Despite a brief political U-turn on its 2024 generational ban, NZ doubled down on regulated vaping as the cornerstone of Smokefree 2025. Critics worry about high youth experimentation (current daily youth vaping at 8 percent) but adult quit success continues to climb.

Sweden: almost smoke-free via harm reduction

• Daily smoking (2024): 5.6 percent: lowest in the EU, projected to hit 4.8 percent in 2026.
• Nicotine alternatives mix: snus 14 percent, vaping 7 percent: dual harm-reduction products accelerate decline.
• Lung-cancer mortality vs EU average: 41 percent lower: Swedish Public Health Agency credits reduced combustion products.

Sweden’s quiet success shows that offering multiple safer alternatives—not just pharma NRT—can move a population below the smoke-free threshold years ahead of schedule.

Why vaping often outperforms other quit tools

• Behavioural fidelity: hand-to-mouth action and visible vapor replicate smoking rituals better than patches or gum.
• Rapid nicotine delivery: nic-salt pods reach the bloodstream in seconds, curbing cravings more effectively.
• Flavour variety: keeps ex-smokers engaged, reducing relapse during stressful periods.
• Cost efficiency: refillable kits cost about 60 percent less per month than a 20-a-day cigarette habit.

Randomised UK trials (updated May 2025) show vaping nearly doubles 12-month quit rates compared to traditional NRT when both are paired with counselling.

Concerns that still need answers

• Long-term lung impact: observational studies past 15 years show far fewer toxins, but data beyond 20 years is still pending.
• Youth uptake: regulators must balance adult access with strict age-verification and flavour standards.
• Environmental cost: 2025 UK battery-recycling mandate aims to curb e-waste from coils and pods.

What the future could look like

If trends continue, the UK could reach sub-10 percent smoking by 2027 and sub-5 percent by 2032. NZ is on track for Smokefree 2025, while Sweden may become the first nation to hit practical zero smoking without outright bans.

In all three cases, vaping is not the sole hero, but it’s the catalyst turning stagnation into rapid decline. Crucially, each country combines regulation (age limits, product standards) with proactive harm-reduction messaging.

Final takeaway: choose evidence, not hype

Pills, patches and counselling still help — but 2025 data shows vaping can close the final gap. For millions of adult smokers, it offers the psychological and physiological bridge that older tools missed.

Thinking of making the switch? Explore our starter kits or chat with our team for tailored advice. The future of quitting might already be here — in the palm of your hand.