A recent survey conducted across Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man has revealed widespread concern about smoking and vaping among young people, alongside strong public support for further action to reduce their prevalence.
The Smoking & Vaping Survey 2025, undertaken by Island Global Research (IGR), aimed to understand islanders’ views on tobacco and vape consumption, its impact, and possible health improvement measures. The online survey ran from 15–23 April 2025 and was open to residents aged 18 and over. In total, 1,330 Jersey residents, 1,451 Guernsey residents, and 1,468 Isle of Man residents participated. Responses were weighted by age and gender to ensure they accurately represented the population.
The findings highlight clear differences in attitudes between age groups. Younger adults aged 18–39 were more likely to view smoking and vaping as acceptable behaviours, while older respondents expressed stronger concern about their social and health impacts. More than six in ten participants aged 18–39 agreed that “vaping outside in public is socially acceptable,” compared with only about one in four aged 65 and over.
Despite differing views on social acceptability, there was a shared recognition of the risks associated with vaping—particularly among young people. Comments from participants reflected a strong desire to see more preventive measures introduced. Over 90% of respondents supported providing schools with more tools to prevent vaping on school grounds, and around 85% backed additional public health campaigns targeting young people.
Furthermore, about two-thirds supported a ‘phase-out’ policy—banning the sale of tobacco and vaping products to anyone born in 2009 or later, mirroring emerging global approaches to tobacco control.
However, the results also revealed gaps in public awareness about cessation support. In each island, just under half of respondents said they would not know where to seek help if they or someone they knew wanted to stop smoking or vaping.
Overall, the survey underscores a clear public appetite for stronger, youth-focused interventions and improved access to cessation resources, as communities across the islands continue working toward better health outcomes.
