October 30th 2024.
In a move aimed at decreasing smoking among children, Labour has announced a tax increase on vaping products as part of their first budget in 14 years. This decision was made by Rachel Reeves, who also revealed plans for a 10% duty hike on hand-rolling tobacco and a new flat rate duty on all vape liquid starting in October 2026.
This move is a part of Labour's overall campaign against vaping, which has also included a ban on disposable vapes set to take effect on June 1st. This ban was previously announced by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in March, and Labour has promised to uphold it upon taking office.
The decision to increase taxes on vaping products is in line with the government's efforts to make smoking unaffordable for young people. In addition to the vape tax, there will also be a rise in tobacco duty, which aims to discourage children who are priced out of vaping from turning to smoking.
According to the Treasury, the vape tax is expected to generate £120m in 2026-27 and could reach £445m by 2028-29. This is a significant amount, considering that the use of vaping products has increased by 400% in the UK between 2012 and 2023, with around 9.1% of the population now using them.
There has been some speculation about potential changes being announced in the budget, as the government had initially planned to table the tobacco and vapes bill at the beginning of the month. This delay has left many wondering what adjustments may be made.
Mary Creagh, Defra's circular economy minister, expressed her support for the ban on disposable vapes, stating that they are wasteful and contribute to the litter in our towns and cities. She added that this is just the first step towards a circular economy, where resources are used for longer and waste is reduced, ultimately leading to the creation of more jobs.
Health minister Andrew Gwynne echoed the concerns about vaping among young people, citing statistics that show a quarter of 11-15-year-olds have used a vape in the past year. He also emphasized the importance of banning disposable vapes, as they are the preferred product for children who vape.
Research has found that nearly half of the children caught vaping are under the age of eleven, highlighting the need for action to be taken to protect vulnerable young people. With the ban on disposable vapes and the increase in taxes on vaping products, Labour hopes to discourage the use of these products among children and ultimately reduce smoking rates.
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