UK Vape Tax Could Push E-Liquid Prices to £40 a Bottle

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UK Vape E-Liquid Price Tax

Vapers in the United Kingdom are facing a significant price hike on e-liquids, with a new government-imposed vape duty set to take effect in October 2026. The tax will add a flat rate of 22p for every milliliter of vape liquid, a move that will dramatically increase costs for consumers, particularly those who buy larger, more cost-effective bottles.

According to vaping retailer Vape Ease UK, this new duty means a standard 100ml bottle of e-liquid, currently priced around £15, will have an additional £22 of tax applied. This will cause the final retail price to soar to approximately £40 per bottle when including VAT. The retailer described it as “the biggest price jump the industry has ever seen.”

The government’s stated aim for the tax is to discourage non-smokers from starting to vape and to help fund public services like the NHS. However, concerns are being raised about the potential unintended consequences. The flat-rate structure means even zero-nicotine liquids will be subject to the same levy, impacting all vapers. A primary fear is that the steep price increase might drive some vapers, who originally switched from cigarettes for health and financial reasons, back to smoking, which remains more dangerous but will become closer in price.

This tax follows the UK’s ban on disposable vapes in 2025, creating a double challenge for small independent vape shops. Retailers worry that as prices double, budget-conscious customers may cut back, stop buying, or turn to unregulated options like DIY mixing or illegally imported liquids, raising new public health concerns.

Matthew Ma
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