An appeal by Mark Oates, founder of We Vape.
A TARGETED community is a united one.
And today I call on the millions of vapers victimised for using a tool that has saved them from the horrors of smoking to stand together against the latest government broadside.
Proposals for a tax on vaping were announced during Jeremy Hunt’s March 6 budget.
It was revealed “the government is introducing a new duty on vaping and increasing
tobacco duty from October 2026, raising revenue to support public services like the NHS.”
This will generate £445 million in revenue annually, we are told.
The price of the strongest liquids (≥11mg/ml) will rocket by 143%. Weaker liquids (≤11mg/ml) will go up by 98% and nicotine-free liquids by 48%.
It means a 10ml bottle of 20mg nicotine salt strength will increase from £3.99 to £6.99.
For many smokers, this is enough to further dissuade them from making the switch.
For the public – including smokers – it also suggests vapes are as dangerous as cigarettes because tobacco duty was ramped up over the years as the health implications became clear.
As we know, there is no comparison between vaping and smoking in terms of safety – the former helps you escape the latter, which kills you.
There is a real danger this tax will cause vapers to return to smoking while fuelling the moral panic we see around e- cigarettes.
Crucially, there is a public consultation running until May 29.
An overwhelming rejection of these taxes by the vaping community is vital to not only persuade the government to rethink these plans but put our position on record.
Please get your voice heard – respond to the consultation.
The form is at the bottom, here, and should be emailed to vapingproductsduty@hmrc.gov.uk
