UK Budget 2023: No Tax on Disposable Vapes

According to the annual YouGov youth survey conducted by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in March and published on July 7th, teen vaping and experimentation via disposable vapes have increased. The survey reported that current vaping among UK children aged 11-17 has risen from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022. Additionally, the percentage of teens who have tried vaping has increased from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022. Disposable vapes are currently the most commonly used devices, with an alarming increase from 7% in 2020 and 8% in 2021 to 52% in 2022.

The survey highlights that Elf Bar and Geek Bar are the most popular brands, with only 30% reporting having tried other brands. There has been increasing concern over the past year about the growing circulation of disposable vapes.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been advocating for a new tax on disposable vapes, and such proposals are expected to be included in the government’s response to the Khan Review on smoking. Similarly, Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity ASH, has recently stated that such a tax should be enforced to address the negative impact of disposable products on the environment. “Increasing the tax on single-use disposable vapes in the March Budget would be easy to do and could reduce both child vaping and the vast quantities of single-use vapes being thrown into landfills.”

However, despite the calls for a new tax, treasury sources have indicated that it will not be included in the upcoming Budget on March 15th. “Department of Health officials are keen, but it’s not going to happen,” said a source as quoted.

It is important to note that while vaping can be a useful tool for adult smokers looking to quit, it is crucial to address the increase in teen vaping and the impact of disposable vapes on the environment. Tightening regulations and increasing enforcement are urgently needed.