Gallup has released a poll on smoking and smoking alternative products in the US. There is plenty to be happy about, not least the news that smoking prevalence is the lowest it’s been since Gallup first started collecting that particular data point in 1944.
But don’t crack open the champagne just yet because data suggests that Americans’ perceptions of vapes and nicotine pouches are wildly out of whack.
Let’s take a look at what the survey has to say.
Smoking at record lows
The US smoking prevalence rate is 11%. As mentioned above, this is the lowest it’s been in the roughly 80 years that Gallup has recorded this statistic.
Youth smoking rates have collapsed.
One of the primary contributing factors to the drop in smoking rates is that young people don’t seem all that interested in combustible cigarettes. There are a few things going on here. Firstly, citizens are much more health conscious—secondly, the availability of smoking-alternative products like vapes and nicotine pouches.
Only 6% of young adults — who Gallup defines as people under 30 — are people who smoke. Twenty years ago, that number was 35%, which is incredible progress. However, it’s worth pointing out that smoking is largely split along educational lines. Per the poll, “5% of college graduates and 15% of those without a college degree say they have smoked cigarettes.”
So, while the problem of smoking has largely been solved in more affluent areas, it’s still contributing to health disparities in lower-income communities.
Of course, this is not just a US issue. As I wrote in the paper 2 Million Years of Life: How Safer Smoking Alternatives Can Level Up Health and Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis, support for safer smoking alternatives in the UK is essential for closing health disparities. Moreover, vapes and nicotine pouches are a far cheaper way to access nicotine, meaning people who smoke can reduce their spending during a continuing cost of living crisis.
Vaping is up
18 to 29-year-olds are more than twice as likely to smoke e-cigarettes. While tobacco control incessantly complain about e-cigarettes appealing to kids, this data shows that vapes provide an alternative product for people who are likely to smoke.
Additionally, the 30 to 49-year-old demographic is twice as likely to smoke cigarettes when compared to 18 to 29-year-olds. They are also half as likely to vape. Product substitution in action.
Perceived harmfulness of different products
So far, it’s all been pretty good news. But when it comes to the perceived harmfulness of vaping and nicotine pouches, Americans are tragically misinformed.
A full 57% believe that vapes are “very harmful”; a further 31% say that are somewhat harmful.
When it comes to nicotine pouches, these numbers are 34% and 38% respectively, for a total of 72%.
As you’ll notice above, the American public don’t rate cigars or pipes as that much more harmful than vapes or pouches. That opinion is not grounded in reality or research. Again, the FDA, media, government, and the parasitic health bodies must accept responsibility for failing the public.
In conclusion
The Gallup data shows that young adults in America are essentially smokefree. So, it’s no surprise that tobacco control has lasered in on vapes and nicotine pouches in a desperate and undignified bid to stay relevant and keep the grants and donations flowing.
Alternative nicotine products are what is really driving the decline of smoking in the US. However, per the poll, “educational efforts may be a factor in explaining why cigarette smoking is at an 80-year low.” So, if messaging is so effective, the priority should be ensuring US citizens are informed enough to make the right choices. I won’t hold my breath.
