Dr Harry Tattan-Birch is a Senior Research Fellow and Statistician in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London (UCL). The primary focus of his research is the impact of novel nicotine products, such as vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, on smoking and public health. This includes population-level effects of policies and global market changes across different socioeconomic groups. He has expertise in the design and statistical analysis of both randomised trials and observational data, and acts as a Deputy Statistics and Methodology Editor at the journal Addiction.

Abstract

Impact of new products: The introduction of disposable vapes and nicotine pouches

The introduction of new products can quickly alter patterns of addictive behaviour across the population. In the past decade, two such nicotine products — modern disposable vapes and oral nicotine pouches — have emerged. This talk explores how regular national surveys can be used to monitor the impact of these products. These analyses draw on data from the Smoking Toolkit Study (STS), a monthly survey of approximately 2,450 adults in Great Britain (2016-2025). Telephone interviews collect information on smoking, vaping, nicotine pouch use, and demographic characteristics. The introduction of disposable vapes was associated with a substantial increase in vaping among young adults (aged 18–24), including among those who have never smoked. In response, the UK government has announced a ban on disposable vapes. Anticipating this, manufacturers have begun producing rechargeable versions of their most popular disposable products, and our data show that an increasing number of people who vape are now transitioning to these rechargeable alternatives. In contrast, despite aggressive marketing by the industry, oral nicotine pouches are not yet widely used. These findings highlight the importance of continuous surveillance in detecting and responding to new products entering the market, including industry responses to public health policies.