Vape prices to rise as new tax takes effect

Vape prices to rise as new tax takes effect The Vaping Product Duty will be imposed at a rate of £2.20 per 10ml of e‑liquid, the government announced. Retailers have six months to sell existing stock at the pre‑duty price before the increase applies. Officials say the measure aims to make vaping less attractive to children and young people, citing growing evidence of adverse health effects. The duty applies to all vaping products regardless of nicotine content. On the same day, tobacco duties were raised by £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50g of tobacco. HMRC stated that the increase preserves the financial incentive for smokers to switch to vaping. The vaping industry has opposed the tax, arguing that affordable e‑cigarettes help adults quit smoking. HMRC is also introducing a traceability stamp for vaping products that must appear on all units sold in the UK from April. The stamp is part of a broader effort to curb illicit trade, which officials describe as a growing problem on UK high streets. Last month the prime minister announced new powers for councils to address the decline of high‑street retail, including limits on the number of vape shops. Planning changes in England will require any new store selling e‑cigarettes or vapes to seek local council approval before opening. Health Minister Karin Smyth said, “These measures are an important step in our ambition to tackle youth vaping by reducing the affordability of vaping products, which goes hand‑in‑hand with the work we are already doing to tackle the appeal and availability of vapes on our high streets.” James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, added, “The government is backing every retailer who plays by the rules.” In Reading, Mackenzie Bird, 19, who has vaped regularly for three years, told the BBC she was “fine” with the duty and said it would not stop her from vaping. “I don’t know how many people it’ll really deter,” she said. “I’ll most likely just stock up.” Cara Lewis‑Rimes and Dylan Killner expressed a different view. Cara said she thinks the changes will “force vapers to cut down because of the cost of living.” Dylan remarked, “I don’t think it’s doing me any favours… the health aspect around it as well is not great,” and said he might quit altogether. Jordan Apap, an income adviser at Berkshire Vapers, warned that the duty “would put a lot of strain on legitimate vape shops” that provide specialist advice and service, unlike convenience stores or phone shops that sell vapes. “There is a real and genuine risk that we will cease to be within a year or two,” he said. John Dunne, chief executive of the UK Vaping Industry Association, described the levy as “short of a tax on public health.” He noted that vapes had helped “millions of adults cut down on or stop smoking.” Dunne stressed, “Protecting young people is essential. But that means stronger enforcement against illicit and rogue traders, not making legal vaping more costly for adults trying to stay away from cigarettes.” Experts acknowledge that vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking but is not risk‑free, and long‑term effects remain uncertain. A recent review of vaping studies linked e‑cigarette use in children and young people to wheezing, coughing, poor oral and dental health, disrupted sleep, mental‑health issues and eye symptoms. The NHS advises that children and non‑smokers should never vape. Additional reporting by Neranjana Elapatha.