The UK government is expected to announce a 25% tax on vaping products when it unveils the nation’s budget on March 6th. This would mark the first time vapes are taxed in the UK.
Tax Intended to Deter Youth Vaping
The tax proposal aims to dissuade underage vaping, while also generating revenue to balance the budget. However, public health experts argue taxing vapes will simply drive more people back to deadly cigarettes.
E-cigarettes have played a pivotal role in reducing England’s smoking rate to an all-time low of 13%. Many fear a vape tax runs contrary to the government’s stated goal of creating a “smokefree generation”.
Widespread Opposition Expected
The tax announcement will likely face opposition from vapers, industry advocates and even members of the ruling Conservative party.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expects support from the rival Labour party to pass the legislation.
As part of the goal to phase out smoking, the government has also proposed gradually raising the minimum age to buy cigarettes each year.
Additional Vape Regulations Possible
The vape tax formed part of a public consultation covering several regulatory options concluded in December 2022.
Along with taxation, the government is also considering bans on vape mailing, advertising restrictions, flavor limitations, and plain packaging laws.
Research Shows Vape Taxes Increase Smoking
Public health bodies worldwide confirm that excessive vape regulation or taxation leads more people to smoke cigarettes:
- A 2020 study found “e-cigarette taxes, like cigarettes taxes, reduce adult and youth vaping but also increase adult smoking.”
- Researchers conclude: “Taxing e-cigarettes could produce public health damages by increasing smoking among adults.”
The real-world evidence clearly shows vapes and cigarettes act as economic substitutes. When vaping becomes more expensive or less accessible due to government policies, people naturally return to cheaper, easier-to-obtain cigarettes.
UK Risks Reversing a Decade of Progress
For the past decade, the UK has adopted a pragmatic approach to tobacco harm reduction. Vaping has been embraced by health authorities as a smoking cessation aid.
This progressive policy has driven smoking rates down rapidly. However, the short-sighted vape tax proposal risks undermining a decade of enormous public health gains.
The government aims to “make the UK smokefree by 2030”. But experts warn that suddenly increasing the cost of vaping threatens to erode smoking cessation progress and incentivize cigarette uptake.
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