The European e-cigarette market is on the rise: Eurispes research findings

As part of efforts to combat tobacco-related diseases, Eurispes is conducting a Europe-wide study into the role of new devices in overcoming e-cigarettes, a leading cause of tobacco-related diseases. Research conducted by Eurispes focuses on e-cigarette consumption in the EU, analyzes different public health orientations, and explores employment and supply chain aspects of the e-cigarette industry in 14 European countries. The results reveal different scenarios, characterized by different levels of market development.

The research uses quantitative descriptive methods, with data drawn from international and national preliminary studies and empirical research from questionnaires in the second half of 2021. The questionnaire, structured with open-ended questions, was distributed via email among national e-cigarette industry associations, manufacturers and retailers. Data can be collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics for the following markets: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Regarding the prevalence of smokers and e-cigarette users, the Eurispes study shows that the number of e-cigarette users (so-called e-cigarette users) is quite mixed among the markets surveyed. Although the number of e-cigarette users in the UK is considerable, reaching 6%, in countries such as Romania, e-cigarettes are less popular, accounting for only 1.5% of users. The data indicates that there are 6 million e-cigarette users in 11 of the 14 markets observed in the study.

Among the monitored markets, the highest proportion of e-cigarette users is in Lithuania, with 11.5% of the adult population; as mentioned above, Ireland and the United Kingdom each have 6.7% of e-cigarette users; followed by In France, the proportion of e-cigarette users is 6.7%. The prevalence of e-cigarettes among the population aged 18 and over is 5.8%. Regular e-cigarette use is less common in Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain, where the number of e-cigarette users remains between 1.1% and 1.9%.
In 2020, the study covered a country with a total adult population of more than 335 million, of which 82 million were smokers (24% of the adult population). More than 656,000 people died from tobacco-related diseases each year, and the total cost to the national health system was more than 990 million per year. billion euros.

Latvia, Greece and Romania have the highest smoking rates, with more than a third of adults smoking. Denmark has the lowest smoking rate at 16%; the UK leads the way in smoking prevention, with a smoking rate of 12.8% of the adult population. The number of e-cigarette users was slightly negatively correlated with the number of smokers, suggesting that wider use of e-cigarettes may correspond to a decrease in smoking rates.

Analyzing distribution channel and workforce data identified 1,600 e-cigarette companies in 11 surveyed countries. Almost all are small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, nearly 600 companies are active in the import and distribution sectors. In the retail sector, there are more than 12,000 specialty stores, but nearly 150,000 general stores also carry e-cigarette products. The share of online stores ranges from 10% in Germany to 40% in the Netherlands and Ireland. Nordic and Western European countries tend to have higher levels of e-cigarette use, larger market volumes, and more employees in the industry.
It is particularly important to emphasize that the e-cigarette industry directly employs 77,000 people in the countries surveyed.

Authorities in many EU countries still impose substantial restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes as a means of reducing risk, often imposing the same taxes on these new devices as other traditional combustion products. In contrast, other countries such as the UK have shown a more open attitude towards these new devices, with promising returns in terms of public health.
Research by Eurispes shows that while the e-cigarette market is growing in Europe, the same regulations on combustible tobacco products often apply to e-cigarette products, making it impossible to inform users of the potential of these new devices to reduce health risks.

As part of efforts to combat tobacco-related diseases, Eurispes is conducting a Europe-wide study into the role of new devices in overcoming e-cigarettes, a leading cause of tobacco-related diseases. Research conducted by Eurispes focuses on e-cigarette consumption in the EU, analyzes different public health orientations, and explores employment and supply chain aspects of the e-cigarette industry in 14 European countries. The results reveal different scenarios, characterized by different levels of market development.

The research uses quantitative descriptive methods, with data drawn from international and national preliminary studies and empirical research from questionnaires in the second half of 2021. The questionnaire, structured with open-ended questions, was distributed via email among national e-cigarette industry associations, manufacturers and retailers. Data can be collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics for the following markets: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Regarding the prevalence of smokers and e-cigarette users, the Eurispes study shows that the number of e-cigarette users (so-called e-cigarette users) is quite mixed among the markets surveyed. Although the number of e-cigarette users in the UK is considerable, reaching 6%, in countries such as Romania, e-cigarettes are less popular, accounting for only 1.5% of users. The data indicates that there are 6 million e-cigarette users in 11 of the 14 markets observed in the study.
Among the monitored markets, the highest proportion of e-cigarette users is in Lithuania, with 11.5% of the adult population; as mentioned above, Ireland and the United Kingdom each have 6.7% of e-cigarette users; followed by In France, the proportion of e-cigarette users is 6.7%. The prevalence of e-cigarettes among the population aged 18 and over is 5.8%. Regular e-cigarette use is less common in Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain, where the number of e-cigarette users remains between 1.1% and 1.9%.

In 2020, the study covered a country with a total adult population of more than 335 million, of which 82 million were smokers (24% of the adult population). More than 656,000 people died from tobacco-related diseases each year, and the total cost to the national health system was more than 990 million per year. billion euros.

Latvia, Greece and Romania have the highest smoking rates, with more than a third of adults smoking. Denmark has the lowest smoking rate at 16%; the UK leads the way in smoking prevention, with a smoking rate of 12.8% of the adult population. The number of e-cigarette users was slightly negatively correlated with the number of smokers, suggesting that wider use of e-cigarettes may correspond to a decrease in smoking rates.

Analyzing distribution channel and workforce data identified 1,600 e-cigarette companies in 11 surveyed countries. Almost all are small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, nearly 600 companies are active in the import and distribution sectors. In the retail sector, there are more than 12,000 specialty stores, but nearly 150,000 general stores also carry e-cigarette products. The share of online stores ranges from 10% in Germany to 40% in the Netherlands and Ireland. Nordic and Western European countries tend to have higher levels of e-cigarette use, larger market volumes, and more employees in the industry.

It is particularly important to emphasize that the e-cigarette industry directly employs 77,000 people in the countries surveyed.
Authorities in many EU countries still impose substantial restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes as a means of reducing risk, often imposing the same taxes on these new devices as other traditional combustion products. In contrast, other countries such as the UK have shown a more open attitude towards these new devices, with promising returns in terms of public health.
Research by Eurispes shows that while the e-cigarette market is growing in Europe, the same regulations on combustible tobacco products often apply to e-cigarette products, making it impossible to inform users of the potential of these new devices to reduce health risks.