Ireland’s New Vape Tax Sparks Debate on Health & Economy
A new tax hike in Ireland, is set to more than double the price of some vaping products, sparking a heated debate among addiction experts, health advocates, and retailers. The new excise duty of 50 cents per milliliter is being imposed on all e-liquids, including nicotine-free versions, a move the Department of Health says is aimed at curbing the “explosion” in vaping among young people.
Under the new tax structure, a standard 10ml bottle of nicotine salt e-liquid, often used by adult former smokers, is expected to rise from around €5 to between €11 and €15. Larger, nicotine-free e-liquid bottles will see even more dramatic increases, with a 50ml product potentially jumping from €10-€15 to €35-€55.
Dr. Garrett McGovern, a Dublin-based GP and addiction expert, has warned that these price hikes will create significant barriers for people relying on vapes to quit smoking. “There should be no barriers put in the way of people who are trying to quit cigarettes,” he said, expressing concern about the knock-on impact on smokers. He also noted that while the tax is aimed at youth, their preferred choice of disposable vapes will see the smallest relative price increase (a 2ml disposable rising from ~€8 to over €9), while products used by adult ex-smokers will be hit hardest. He argued that stricter enforcement of the existing under-18 sales ban would be a more effective youth prevention measure.
However, Chris Macey of the Irish Heart Foundation welcomed the tax, stating that “increasing the price of either vapes or cigarettes is the biggest deterrent to young people starting to use them.” He cited data showing nearly a third of Irish teenagers have used vapes and highlighted evidence that vaping can harm adolescent brain development and act as a gateway to smoking.
Vape shop owners are also concerned about the economic fallout. Eoin O’Boyle, owner of OB Vape in Drogheda, said the tax is “horrendous” for business but will primarily affect his core customers: adults who have used vapes to quit smoking. He warned that the significant price difference would fuel cross-border trade with Northern Ireland (where a vape product might cost €2 compared to €12 in the Republic) and a surge in black market sales, undermining legitimate retailers. While many shops have stockpiled products to delay passing on the price increase, they anticipate a rush from customers also looking to stock up.
O’Boyle, along with the trade association Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI), supports a proper licensing system to remove non-compliant sellers and stronger enforcement of the age ban. RVI welcomed the tax as a “positive and necessary step” that, if properly enforced, could help level the playing field for responsible retailers. The Irish Government has also indicated that further measures, including flavor restrictions and a ban on disposable vapes, are being planned.
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