The number of children vaping in the UK has tripled over the past three years, according to a recent report by the Department of Health and Social Care. While it remains illegal for under-18s to buy e-cigarettes, many teenagers are still obtaining them, leaving parents concerned.
Online vape retailer Go Smoke Free analysed 50 TikTok videos to uncover the most common hiding spots for vapes. The top location, mentioned in 40% of videos, was inside unused clothing such as hoodie pockets or rolled up in jumpers. Hiding items behind paintings or posters came second, cited in 28% of clips.
Other popular spots include inside pillowcases (22%), in or under bedroom drawers (20%), and beneath mattresses or bed frames (20%). Some teenagers also hide vapes inside stuffed toys, glasses cases, jewellery boxes, or even hollow hairbrushes designed specifically for storage.
Experts advise against searching a child's room, recommending instead a non-confrontational conversation. Warning signs include online language: TikTok sellers often use hashtags like #elfbundles, #puffbars, or #discreetshipping to discreetly market vapes disguised as lip gloss or sweets.
