UK Smoking Cessation and E-cigarettes Market Report 2021

Providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date information and analysis of the UK Smoking Cessation And E-Cigarettes market, including the behaviours, preferences and habits of the consumer.

E-cigarettes remain a popular smoking cessation method in the UK, used by 87% of smokers who are currently trying to quit/cut down. As such, the category saw an estimated 6.6% growth in value to reach £314 million in 2020, while the smoking category declined by an estimated 3.2% to reach £144.1 million. The pandemic has impacted smoking rates and made it harder for smokers to quit; 30% of smokers have smoked more regularly since the start of COVID-19 while 51% have stress-smoked more.

A threat to both the smoking cessation and E-cigarettes categories comes from smoking alternatives, such as snus (tobacco-free nicotine patches) and smoke-less devices, which claim to satisfy smokers’ cravings without the negative implications associated with smoking or vaping. While these aren’t marketed as smoking cessation methods, smokers can use them to quit/cut down.

There are opportunities however for brands and health bodies to provide better information and education to smokers, particularly as access to health experts has been impacted by the pandemic. Brands can look to set up online communities to enable smokers to access help and support from their peers, while the NHS can provide more guidance to vapers on adjusting nicotine levels to help them quit.

Read on to discover more details or take a look at all of our UK Health and Wellbeing market research.

Quickly understand

• The impact of COVID-19 on smokers and vapers.
• Smoking and vaping rates, including frequencies.
• Quit smoking status.
• Methods used to quit smoking.
• Nicotine level used by vapers.
• Smoking cessation products market.
• UK market value of smoking cessation products.

Covered in this report

Brands: Nicorette, Nicotinell, NiQuitin, Galpharm, Dinner Lady, Wilko, ASDA, Zyn.

Expert analysis from a specialist in the field

This report, written by Roshida Khanom, a leading analyst in the Health sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.

The pandemic has increased smoking ad vaping frequencies, despite smokers being more concerned about their respiratory health and the impact that COVID-19 could have on them. In addition, with access to health professionals being hindered by the pandemic, many may have postponed plans to quit. The smoking cessation category also lacks breakthrough NPD or significant advertising.

Vaping, on the other hand, continues to be an appealing way to quit/cut down, with vaping rates up since the start of COVID-19. Vapers were already accustomed to buying online even before the pandemic, and while specialist stores have borne the brunt of closures during lockdown periods, online buying has flourished. Both categories face competition from smoking alternatives, such as snus, however vaping is likely to continue to fare well while smoking cessation is expected to continue on its downward decline.

Roshida Khanom
Category Director BPC