New vape tax would be a welcome next step – but more action is urgently needed to achieve a Smokefree Generation and tackle youth vaping

Two of Wales’ leading health charities have welcomed plans for the additional regulation of vape products, following the announcement of a consultation on the design of a new levy  by Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt.

ASH Wales and Asthma + Lung UK Cymru agree a new tax is a good idea and have now urged the UK Government to go further.

Suzanne Cass, chief executive of Ash Wales, said:

“A new tax will be a useful lever to support enforcement to tackle the supply and demand of illegal products, especially among children who should never vape. But on its own, it’s not enough.

“The longer we wait – the bigger the problem becomes and more children become dependent on nicotine. We urgently need to see the bill to create a smokefree generation and tackle youth vaping tabled in Westminster, progressed through the legislative process and then passed into law here in Wales.”

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru said:

“Introducing a new tax on vapes is a good idea. We need urgent action to stop children from vaping, with disposable vapes in particular remaining far too attractive and easy for children to buy – a price increase would quickly make vapes less accessible.

“However, the revenue from a vaping levy must be used to fund a vape recycling scheme and enforcement around sales. Alongside a levy, we want to see restrictions on the marketing of vapes so that they do not appeal to children.”

A vape tax would also have the added benefit of giving greater powers to Border Force and HMRC to stop the import of illegal vapes.

ASH Wales also welcomed plans for an increase in tobacco duty and highlighted the importance of keeping a price differential between vapes and tobacco, to avoid sending a message that they are equally harmful.

Worryingly, according to ASH Wales data, there is a sizeable proportion of adults in Wales who believe that vapes are just as harmful, or more harmful than tobacco cigarettes.

The ASH Wales YouGov Annual Survey 2023 shows the percentage who feel this way has grown from 25% in 2017 to 46% in 2023. This is consistent among smokers in Wales, with 47% who felt this way – again a significant increase from 14% of smokers in 2017.

Suzanne Cass added: “It’s important that smokers always have that option to switch from smoking to vaping, which is not only significantly less harmful to their health – but it should also be less expensive too.”

Joseph Carter added: “It’s also important to remember that vaping can be a useful way for adults to quit smoking, so the levy should fund an expansion of the Swap to Stop scheme and enable people on the lowest incomes to access vaping devices to help them.  

“If you’re a smoker and you want to quit tobacco, vaping can be a helpful way to give up smoking. But for children and those who don’t smoke, starting to vape is never good idea, especially if you have a lung condition.”