The federal government took a heavy swing at vaping within the 2024 Spring Funds announcement. Then UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt launched a brand new Tobacco and Vapes Invoice that aimed to ban disposables, this was confirmed to come back into impact on 1st June 2025 by Labour Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in her funds later that 12 months. This got here as a blow if not an unsurprising one, however the unveiling of a large tax improve on all e-liquids left the vaping group shocked.
This levy is geared toward an business that’s endorsed by well being professionals(1) as a a lot safer various to smoking and appears ill-timed given the present price of residing disaster and the federal government’s plan to section out smoking fully.
Add to this the looming discussions concerning potential flavour and packaging restrictions, and it appears that evidently vaping is being disproportionately and irrationally undermined, contemplating it is among the few industries that gives a hurt and price discount profit to society.
Compounding the confusion are blended alerts from the federal government within the type of their nationwide ‘Swap to Cease’ marketing campaign, geared toward encouraging vaping, while offering no definitive plan to deal with the widespread black market – an business which is overwhelmingly accountable for the rise in youth vaping, and which stands to profit essentially the most from the brand new vape tax.
Vaping is thought to be essentially the most profitable nicotine substitute remedy obtainable, accountable for serving to over 2.7m people who smoke within the UK efficiently give up their behavior.(2) The low price of proudly owning and sustaining a vape package is among the largest motivators to get people who smoke to make the swap.
While disposables are by far the preferred gadget amongst these seeking to give up, you get the largest financial savings with a refillable vape package and bottles of e-liquid – and that is the place the brand new vaping levy goes to hit hardest.
The brand new UK vape tax adopted a prolonged session course of with members of the general public and business, which appears to have had little impact on their resolution making, as it’s grownup vapers who are actually being punished for selecting to reside a more healthy life-style.
Be a part of us as we unpack the implications for vaping after the newest tax funds, clarify when the Vaping Merchandise Obligation (VPD) begins, why e-liquids are being taxed and what this can imply in your pockets.
