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Spain warned over teenage vaping surge ahead of World No Tobacco Day
Doctors say e-cigarettes are becoming the “gateway” to nicotine addiction as pressure grows for tougher anti-smoking laws
Doctors in Spain are warning of a worrying rise in teenage vaping ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday May 31, with health experts calling for stricter controls on e-cigarettes and nicotine products aimed at young people.A new survey by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) found that 13.2% of young people aged 14 to 18 now smoke, up from 10.9% last year. Among those teenagers, more than 90% use e-cigarettes alongside conventional tobacco products.
“Smoking is changing in form, but not in risk,” said family doctor José Manuel Iglesias, spokesperson for Smoke-Free Week 2026. “New devices are attracting young people with a false sense of security. They are inhaling substances that are toxic to their health.”
The survey, carried out between March and April with almost 9,400 people aged over 14 across Spain, suggests vaping has rapidly become the dominant gateway into nicotine use among teenagers.
Vaping becoming the norm among teenagers
Health professionals say flavours, social media influence and peer pressure are helping drive the trend.
Among teenagers aged 14 to 18, 79.2% said attractive flavours were one of the main reasons young people vape, while 64.5% pointed to fashion and 57.9% blamed pressure from friends. More than half believed vaping was less harmful than traditional cigarettes.
“Years ago, e-cigarettes were practically non-existent,” Iglesias said. “Now you only have to stand outside schools or parks to see young people sharing nicotine pouches and vaping devices.”
Doctors are especially concerned about what they describe as “dual use”, where teenagers vape while also smoking conventional cigarettes. María Iglesias, co-spokesperson for Smoke-Free Week 2026, warned that vaping is becoming “a gateway to nicotine addiction rather than a tool for quitting tobacco.”
The report also found that almost one in four people aged 19 to 24 now use tobacco or nicotine products in some form, with conventional cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco remaining especially common in that age group.
Calls grow for tougher anti-smoking laws
The findings have reignited debate over whether Spain should follow the UK’s lead on anti-smoking legislation after Britain approved a landmark law banning anyone born after 2008 from ever legally buying tobacco.
Spanish anti-smoking organisations have described the British move as “historic” and are urging Spain to study similar measures.
José Manuel Iglesias called the UK approach “a brave and disruptive measure that seeks a smoke-free generation”, while stressing that Spain should at least strengthen protections for minors.
Health experts have also warned that Spain risks falling behind other countries on anti-smoking policy after once being considered a pioneer in tobacco control.
However, Spain’s Ministry of Health says the country is not yet ready for such a step. Public Health Director Pedro Gullón admitted Spain still has “a significant legislative lag” compared with countries that have already tightened tobacco laws.
Even so, support for tougher restrictions appears strong. The semFYC survey found that 75.7% of people support expanding smoke-free spaces, while 66.1% back stricter controls on e-cigarette sales and 60.4% support tighter regulation of vaping advertising on social media.
Doctors are also calling for tougher action on flavoured vaping products, which they say clearly appeal to younger users and help normalise nicotine use among teenagers.
Health experts warn that tobacco still causes around 50,000 deaths every year in Spain through illnesses linked to cancer, respiratory disease and cardiovascular problems.
“We are not asking for prohibition,” Iglesias said. “We are asking for protection and delaying the start of smoking.”
Image: Nery Zarate/Unsplash
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