The Labour government’s crackdown on smoking and vaping continues after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a first of its kind tax on the smoking alternative.
Labour has already committed to banning disposable vapes for good, with one in four 11 to 15-year-olds having smoked one in the last year.
It comes after new prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, also took aim at the smoking industry, banning it for good for everyone born after 1 January, 2009 – a measure similar to one brought in by the government down in New Zealand.
That ban will mean anyone currently younger than 15 and nine months will never be legally allowed to buy tobacco products.
Vaping tax confirmed
Now, in today’s (30 October) Budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves followed up on these measures with a brand-new tax on the vaping industry.
Announcing the measure, alongside new tax rises for smokers, Reeves confirmed a substantial price increase for those who use refillable vapes; the only kind of vape allowed in the UK after disposables are banned on 1 June, 2025.
It means that a 10ml bottle of liquid, which retails for as low as £1, will have a £2.20 tax added on top of this.
The tax is measured at every 10ml, so if you get a larger bottle at, say, 50ml, you’ll be left paying an extra £11 on top of what the retailer is charging.
Refillable vapes will come with an added tax (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP via Getty Images)
When will the vaping tax come in?
As for when the tax will come in, you have time to stock up if you’re really against paying it. In fact, quite a bit of time.
Announcing the tax, a HM Treasury spokesperson said: “We want to discourage non-smokers and young people from taking up vaping.
“From 1 October 2026, we’re introducing a vaping duty for the first time at £2.20 per 10ml of liquid.
“Plus a one-off tobacco duty rise to keep the incentive to choose refillable vaping over smoking.”
Many are expected to turn to refillable vaping when disposables are banned (Getty Stock Images)
Vaping tax ‘penalises’ people, says critic
Greig Fowler, director at UK vaping retailer VPZ, hit out at the tax saying it ‘penalises’ people ‘doing their best to make positive life choices’, such as giving up smoking.
“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,” Fowler told LADbible.
“Further 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 increasing taxation, the Government needs to take on board our recommendations and implement a licensing scheme where there are proper enforcement and policing in place to tackle youth uptake and the existing black market.”
‘A welcome step’
Sarah Sleet, chief executive at charity Asthma + Lung UK, praised the move from Reeves on both the vaping and tobacco tax fronts.
She said: “The announcement of increased duty on both tobacco and vaping products is a welcome step in protecting the health of the nation. It reinforces the government’s commitment to tackling the growing number of people taking up and becoming addicted to vaping.
“Making vapes less affordable is one of the most effective ways to discourage children and young people in particular. While the increase in tobacco prices will mean that vaping is still more affordable than smoking for those trying to quit.
“However, hundreds of young people are still taking up smoking every day, so the nation can’t afford any further delays in the reintroduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Every day it’s delayed puts more people at risk from the harms of smoking and more pressure on an already struggling NHS.”