Does vaping encourage smoking?

There is no evidence to support the assertion that vaping is “normalising smoking” or that it is a gateway to smoking
Smoking rates have continued to decline in Ireland since vaping products have become widely available, suggesting they do not act as a gateway.
99% of those who vape in Ireland are ex-smokers according to Healthy Ireland
According to research undertaken by iReach, 40% of users purchase tobacco flavour with menthol coming in at 31% and sweet flavours at just 10%
As stated by Martin Dockrell, Public Health England: “Banning flavours would likely provoke vapers to relapse back to smoking, leading to more adult smoking role models for young people, which we know is the key driver in young people starting to smoke.”