No New Vape Crackdown
The i newspaper has confirmed Planet of the Vapes’ scoop that Government officials were pushing for a new vape tax – but reveals that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has rebuffed them
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by Dave Cross
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Commenting on the news that the UK could impose a vape tax on disposable products or, worse, a sector wide imposition, the World Vapers’ Alliance said: “It is important to do everything we can to keep nicotine products out of adolescents’ hands, but policies must go further to the root of the problem. Simple bans and tax increases will only create an illicit market without any age or quality checks.”
Over the last fortnight, Planet of the Vapes has heard a number of supposedly pro harm reduction individuals support the call for a vape tax. We were told that such a tax would restrict teen access by making products more unaffordable – but nobody could tell us if this would hinder adult access too, especially given that hardcore smokers tend to have less disposable income and the move would make vaping less attractive.
Nor could they explain how Trading Standards would cope with increased black market activity when departments are struggling to address the problem as it currently is.
The i newspaper led with the splash, “No vaping crackdown in spring statement as Jeremy Hunt rules out disposable e-cigarettes levy”, in what will come as great news to current and potential vapers.
The paper’s journalists have heard from Treasury sources “a new levy will not be included in what is expected to be a slimmed down Budget on 15 March.”
Continuing: “‘Department of Health officials are keen, but it’s not going to happen,’ a source said.”
Given that voices in the Department of Health were keen for the tax to happen means that vapers can look forward to some potentially harsh measures in the Tobacco Control Plan – should the Department ever get around to producing it.
It remains hard to see how clamping down on any aspect of vaping can be balanced out with the pro-vaping themes contained in the Khan Report (which is meant to be forming the basis of the Tobacco Control Plan).
References:
- Taxing Times for UK Vapers? – https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2023-02-27_taxing-times-for-uk-vapers.html
- Budget 2023: No vaping crackdown in spring statement as Jeremy Hunt rules out disposable e-cigarettes levy – https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/budget-2023-no-vaping-crackdown-spring-statement-jeremy-hunt-e-cigarettes-levy-2190279
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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