Underage vaping in Epping Forest

Publication date

1 May 2025

Key findings

69% of young people agree that vapes are too readily available to those under 18. Vapes are perceived as easily accessible, with 34% being sold from corner shops, 19% are obtained from dealers. Dealers are young people who re-sell them at a reduced cost using Snapchat and other social media platforms. Often these vapes have been used.

Barriers to quitting

Peer pressure and the belief that vaping is “cool” are significant barriers to quitting, with 33% stating they “like it too much” to stop, and 16% having attempted to quit but found it difficult.

Health and awareness

While some acknowledge the health risks, 10% of respondents do not believe vaping is harmful, highlighting the need for clearer education on the risks. 54% use four or more vapes per week and 67% of vapers surveyed, puff 20 or more times a day.

Environmental concerns

Beyond health concerns, vaping poses a significant environmental threat. The UK disposes of an estimated 1.3 million single-use vapes every week, enough to cover twenty two football pitches. These products contain batteries and plastics that are difficult to recycle, leading to environmental pollution. Harmful chemicals from discarded vapes seep into the soil and water, posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.

Additional information

Survey by Epping Forest District Council.

Underage vaping was highlighted as a major concern amongst young people attending the Epping Forest Youth Conference (November 2023).

The publication of this report has been funded by the Community Safety Partnership, the Jack Petchey Foundation and Epping Forest District Council.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced Community Safety Partnerships (CSP) to provide a multi-agency response to crime and the fear of crime within communities. They support the work of the police and other statutory agencies and are widely considered as the most effective approach to finding joint solutions to local community safety issues.

The work of the CSP does not replace the work of the police or the day-to-day business of the organisations involved, instead it is a channel for agencies to work together, delivering against agreed priorities, co-ordinating resources, achieving efficiencies and value for money. The CSP in Epping Forest is well established and is in an excellent position to continue deliver community safety initiatives that matter and can make a difference to people feeling safer in the district. The CSP is pleased to be supporting the Youth Council in getting key messages out to young people in the district and listening to their views and perceptions, their awareness of the situation and their thoughts on how this could be improved, this all can be used to influence future works.

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up in 1999 and since then they have invested over £180m in programmes across London and Essex to celebrate young people and to inspire and motivate them to fulfil their potential. This investment has directly benefitted over 1.3 million young people. Their flagship Achievement Award Scheme has recognised the achievements of over 250,000 young people. They have various other grants and programmes, including the Leader Award and Leader Award Grant, which part-funded this report.