Reassurance for vape businesses and their customers about vape tax proposal
Vaping represents one of the most exciting public health opportunities of our generation.
If regulators and tax authorities introduce inappropriate and disproportionate regulatory and fiscal regimes then smokers will not make the switch and a once in a lifetime opportunity will have been missed.
Whilst others have been pushing for the introduction of an excise tax on vaping, the IBVTA has consistently opposed it, both nationally and at EU level. It is within this context that the recent media stories reporting that HM Treasury are considering applying a tax on vaping products were concerning to us.
These news stories were causing apprehension amongst our members and, given the nature of some of the replies in newspaper comment sections and on social media, were also causing outrage and worry among the UK’s 2.9 million vapers.
The media are happy to run with news stories on vaping, even if those stories are misleading. Vapers are passionate about these products which have had a positive effect on their lives and news outlets may take advantage of that, knowing that any story which sparks outrage will also garner likes and shares.
While others have merely been able to draw attention to the matter from the sidelines, due to the IBVTA’s independence and credibility, we are able to meet and speak to the decision makers who matter most.
We are therefore happy to report that contrary to the anonymous Whitehall sources cited by The Sun newspaper and others this past week, neither the Department for Health and Social care nor HM Treasury currently have plans to introduce a tax on vaping products. One might say that this has been ‘’a good fake news story’’.
The IBVTA are happy to be able to dispel the unease that our members and vapers may have felt while reading these news stories. Thankfully, for now, this is not something the government has plans to introduce, but the we will as always continue to fight against any introduction of so called ‘’sin taxes’’ on products which are helping people to stop smoking.