What are the government's plans for vaping in the UK?
| In this article… | Who are the IBVTA? In response to a vape tax Banning flavours Statement from Marcus Saxton, IBVTA Chair Sources |
We recently published a blog about the government’s consultation regarding UK vape restrictions. It’s the final week to voice your opinions and, hopefully, change vaping in the UK for the better. The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) has released a statement about potential changes. This is backed up by Opinium research, commissioned by an IBVTA member. Let’s take a look at what the IBVTA said when they spoke out against the need to balance proportionate regulation with potential unintended consequences.
Who are the IBVTA?
The IBVTA was founded by some of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers, importers, distributors, and vendors.
It aims to provide reliable information and advice to support independent vape businesses. The IBVTA also encourage positive communication between the vaping industry, scientists, vapers, regulators, policymakers, and the public. This guides fair regulations for everyone and promotes vaping as a proven stop smoking tool.
For more information about the IBVTA, including its recent campaign to demystify vaping, see the blogs below.
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In response to a vape tax
The Opinium study found that if the government imposes a £5 tax on vaping products, it would be devastating. A significant number of people who smoke and ex-smokers who have switched to e-cigarettes may either buy illegal devices or go back to smoking. This tax could make it impossible for the government to achieve its goal of a smoke-free country by 2030.
Many people who switch to vaping do so because of the cost savings, in addition to the health benefits. Our calculator shows that a person who smokes 20 cigarettes per day can save an average of £3,931 per year. A tax, whilst positioned as reducing access to youths could well be counterproductive for those adults who smoke, or existing vapers. Cigarettes should have higher taxes, while non-tobacco alternatives should have an appropriate financial benefit to incentivise those people who smoke to seek vaping as a substantially safer alternative. According to additional research[2], even a 1% increase in the cost of e-liquid could result in vapers returning to smoking, which is known to be harmful.
Banning flavours
The study shows that nearly half of people who vape prefer fruit flavours, while 8% opt for other flavours like cola or vanilla. Interestingly, 59% of vapers believe that having a variety of flavours helps them stay smoke-free and avoid returning to cigarettes. It is important to note that vaping has helped 2.7 million people in the UK to quit smoking[3]. The availability of different flavours has played a crucial role in this success.
A report by Consumer Choice Centre revealed that if e-liquid flavours were to be limited or banned, more than 7.7 million vapers in the United States would return to smoking[4].
Statement from Marcus Saxton, IBVTA Chair
“This new research shows that if the Government were to restrict flavours or introduce a vape tax it would potentially push people back into smoking and damage the Government’s chances of meeting its own smoke free 2030 target. We have no problem with proportionate regulation, but the Government needs to look at the compelling and growing evidence before it introduces measures that will have serious unintended consequences.”
Marcus Saxton, (2023).
If you have any concerns over possible UK vape restrictions, feel free to contact us.
Sources
[1] IBVTA member commissioned research by Opinium of 6,000 UK adults (Fieldwork conducted in November 2023)
[2] Freidman, A. S & Pesko, M. F. (2023). Young adult responses to taxes on cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
[3] Action on Smoking Health. (2023). Use of e-cigarettes among adults in Great Britain.
[4] Consumer Choice Centre (2020). Why vape flavors matter.
