VPZ Issues Vape Tax Warning
VPZ, the UK’s largest retail chain for vape products, has warned that the proposed tax on e-liquids will impact the most vulnerable and hinder the Government’s 2030 Smoke Free ambitions
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by Dave Cross
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Doug Mutter, Director at VPZ, believes the proposed vape tax rise will penalise the most vulnerable in society and damage the UK’s 2030 Smoke Free ambitions.
He said: “Vaping is the most effective way for people to quit smoking and continues to transform the health and financial wellbeing of smokers throughout the country.
“From this perspective it is alarming that the Chancellor has announced a consultation for taxation on vaping products in the budget.
“Increasing taxes on vaping will directly penalise and make products prohibitive for the most vulnerable in society at a time when many are doing their best to make positive life choices.
“The idea of raising tobacco duty to encourage more smokers to switch, whilst at the same time introducing a punitive vaping tax, is fundamentally flawed and will only punish people looking to quit smoking.
“There is a genuine fear that any move in this direction will further fuel the illicit black market and act as a deterrent for people looking to quit, which will hugely damage the progress we have made in reaching the UK’s 2030 Smoke Free ambitions.
“Rather than exploring increasing taxation, the Government needs to take on board our recommendations and implement a licencing scheme where there are proper enforcement and policing in place to tackle youth uptake and the existing black market.”
Doug Mutter, VPZ Director
In January, VPZ announced that a year-on-year growth in industry sales of 12% was testament to the success of vapes at helping smokers transition away from tobacco use.
VPZ stores have been offering a dedicated one-to-one service to help smokers quit and its consumer intelligence tells the vape retailer that the majority of its customers prefer being instore where they can access a personalised service. They believe they receive the right guidance and advice from VPZ’s staff that can’t be accessed elsewhere.
Speaking in support of the work they do in response to the sales update, Doug Mutter said: “VPZ specialists are trained and have expert knowledge, engaging with smokers to educate them on the health, environmental and financial benefits of switching to reusable and sustainable vaping products. Our approach gives adult smokers the help and advice they need at a time when local stop smoking services across the country are under threat whilst supporting the country’s ambitions to become a smoke free nation by 2030.”
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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