YouGov Provides Mixed Results
Survey specialists YouGov give cause for joy to some, and concern for others.
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
Considering that vaping is, according to the last study by Robert West, practised by more than 2.8 million adults in the UK, it is surprising how little work YouGov has carried out on the subject. The last piece of fieldwork was conducted in 2015.
It is difficult to describe the current work as a study, given that it is restricted to one single question – but the number of people the organisation can target does mean that the response can give a good insight into where education efforts might need to be targeted.
2134 YouGov members responded when they were asked:
- For the following question, by "smoking", we mean smoking tobacco-based products (e.g. cigarettes, pipes, cigars etc.). By "vaping", we mean inhaling vapour from electronic cigarettes and other similar devices (e.g. vaporizers etc.).
- Overall, which one of the following comes closest to your view? (Please select the option that best applies)
- I think vaping is generally better for your health than smoking
- I think vaping has the same impact on your health as smoking
- I think vaping is generally worse for your health than smoking
- And, Don’t know
The results were touted as something to be celebrated by a press release from one electronic cigarette vendor, but is that reflected in the data?
When questioned, 43% of respondents thought that vaping is safer than smoking - this in itself is troubling. Given that Public Health England, The Royal College of Physicians and the recent NHS Quit smoking campaign have all thrown their weight behind vaping being safer, the message is struggling to be conveyed.
Almost a third of people believe vaping is as bad as smoking, with a staggering 5% (107 people) believing that vaping is more dangerous than smoking!
Twenty-one percent of respondents didn’t know what to think, that’s one fifth of all replies. Negative perceptions of vaping tended to be held more by women than men. People are more likely to think vaping is more dangerous than smoking if they live in the East of England (6%), the West Midlands (9%), and the North East (8%).
The person who is most likely to be against the idea of vaping is one who has over three children, is unemployed or self-describes as other not working. People who were best informed about the benefits of vaping were full-time students.
The best-informed social media users tended to gain information from Linkedin, Snapchat and Skype. Poorly informed respondents tended to gain information primarily from WhatsApp, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
Join the discussion
Parliament Fears Two
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs faced questions from a Conservative MP and, oddly, a member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
-
by Dave Cross
Harm Reduction For The Rich
The United Kingdom risks becoming a harm reduction country only for the wealthy, according to Michael Landl of the World Vapers’ Alliance
-
by Dave Cross
Sacrificing Health For 2p Cut
Tory Government alienates vaping voters with its mission to cut tax by an unaffordable 2p to attract voters by placing a tax on vape products in the forthcoming budget
-
by Dave Cross
Scotland Announces Single-Use Vape Action
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today
-
by Dave Cross
