12-year-old vaping concerns as parents report children using vapes

A parent in Nottingham discovered her 12-year-old had been vaping regularly since September and said the child bought vapes from a classmate on school grounds. National survey data from 2025 shows 20% of 11-to-17-year-olds in Great Britain had tried vaping, up from 18% in 2024.

A parent in Nottingham found her 12-year-old daughter with a vape and later learned the child had been vaping regularly since the start of the school year in September. The daughter told her mother she had bought the vapes from a classmate while on school grounds and had tried multiple devices at parties. It is illegal in the UK to sell vapes to anyone under 18 or to buy them for underage people. Local and national figures have highlighted a rise in vaping among school-aged children. Key points: - A parent reported her 12-year-old had been vaping regularly since September and purchased devices from a classmate on school grounds. - The child described trying several different vapes and said vaping happened at parties. - UK law prohibits selling vapes to under-18s and buying them for underage people. - Action on Smoking and Health’s Smokefree GB Youth Survey found 20% of 11-to-17-year-olds had tried vaping in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, and Nottingham City Council is launching a two-year anti-vaping scheme to be rolled out early in the year. Summary: The article reports a specific family’s experience alongside national survey data indicating a small increase in youth vaping. Nottingham City Council plans a two-year anti-vaping scheme to be rolled out early in the year. Undetermined at this time regarding wider enforcement or outcomes of the planned local programme.