Smoking & Vaping in the LGBTQ+ Community Report 2026

Stop Smoking London and LGBT Hero investigated smoking, quit attempts and support needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

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Executive Summary:

LGBTQ+ people in this survey told us about the role nicotine played in their lives: managing stress and anxiety, making social situations easier, and helping people feel part of a group.

Vaping was even more woven into daily life than smoking. It was used more frequently, in more settings and, among users of both, was harder to go without.

Smoking was often more situational, linked to alcohol, nightlife and socialising, while vaping followed people through the whole day.

This highlights an opportunity to not only increase awareness of quit methods but to also make quitting feel more possible, relevant and supported: with non-judgmental messages, small achievable steps, practical treatment, mental health support, and an offer that understands LGBTQ+ lives without reducing people to their identity.

Key findings:

• 60% of respondents told us they currently smoked, vaped or used another tobacco/nicotine product.
• 60% thought current stop smoking messages were not very effective or not effective at all.
• 76% said it was very or somewhat important that stop smoking messaging includes LGBTQ+
  people.

Headline findings include:

• Vaping and dual use dominate the current-user sample: Among respondents answering the status question, 24% vaped only and 23% both smoked and vaped, compared with 12% who smoked only.
• Smoking is social, emotional and environmental: Alcohol, socialising, stress, boredom and nightlife recur across every current user group. Smoking areas also function as places for conversation, connection, and belonging.
• Quit motivation exists, but unsupported quitting is the norm: Roughly half of smokers, vapers and dual users had tried to quit. Cold turkey was by far the most common method, professional help was uncommon, and awareness of available medication and apps was low.
• LGBTQ+ reach and representation: Respondents wanted campaigns to address stigma, mental health, nightlife and co-use with alcohol or other substances. They also wanted diverse representation, inclusive language and a visible presence in LGBTQ+ spaces.
• The current campaign model is seen but not persuasive: Almost two thirds had noticed stop smoking campaigns, particularly through health services, social media and product packaging. Yet only 26% considered the messages very or somewhat effective.