UK vape tax comes into force as retailers warn some e-liquid prices could double
The UK has introduced a £2.20 per 10ml duty on vaping liquid to deter young people, with retailers warning some prices could double and a six-month grace period on old stock.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The UK has brought in a new tax on vaping liquid, with duty payable on e-liquids for the first time. The charge is £2.20 per 10 millilitres of liquid. Retailers have six months to sell existing untaxed stock, so the full increase may not hit shelves immediately. The government says the measure is intended to make vaping less attractive to children, young people and non-smokers, and to help remove illicit vapes from the streets. Ministers hope it will support a smoke-free generation.
At customs, there is also a new 50 millilitre duty-free maximum on vaping liquid brought into Great Britain for personal use. To keep a price gap between vaping and smoking, duty on cigarettes is rising by 44p per pack of 20.
Prices will vary. A typical 10ml bottle on sale at £2 could rise to £4.65, according to one example, while a larger bottle priced at £16 could reach £30.53. Another example put a 10ml bottle currently at £4 at around £6.20 after duty and VAT. Retailers warn some products could double in price. The tax also applies to nicotine-free e-liquid, which surprised some users. There are about 5.5 million vapers in the UK.
The vaping industry has opposed the change. It argues vapes are the most effective stop-smoking aid and that taxing them treats the product as the problem. One retailer predicted large increases and called the policy a public health time bomb. Anti-smoking campaigners at ASH welcomed the tax, saying it will push the cheapest products out of children's reach and give the government greater border controls. The government estimates the duty will raise more than £130 million in the first year.
Reaction from users has been mixed. In Plymouth, recently described as the UK's vaping capital, some people said the tax was fair or reasonable, while others called it a rip-off.
Schools have been dealing with youth vaping. At Wales High School in Rotherham, staff have confiscated vapes and installed sensors in student toilets. The school cracked down after a younger pupil fell ill when another pupil shared an illegal vape spiked with an unknown substance. Year 10 students were divided on whether higher prices would deter their peers. Some said addicted users would find a way, including buying from the black market or stealing. Head teacher Lisa McCall said she hoped the tax would make a small difference but did not think it would stop young people getting vapes.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| A new UK tax on vaping liquid came into force today, aimed at reducing vaping among children and young people. | ||
| The tax adds £2.20 per 10 millilitres of vaping liquid, with a six-month period allowing sellers to sell old stock at the pre-duty price, so prices may not rise immediately. | ||
| Only on one channel | ||
| A new 50 millilitre duty-free maximum applies to vaping liquid for personal use brought into Great Britain. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
| A school uses a vape sensor in student toilets to detect vaping. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by ITV |
| Duty on cigarettes is rising by 44p per pack of 20 to maintain the price differential. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
| The vaping industry lobbied against the tax, arguing that vapes help people quit smoking. | Not reported by ITV | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
5 gave the story a short lunchtime mention before a longer evening report that focused on schools and youth vaping. Its evening coverage centred on Wales High School in Rotherham, vape sensors, confiscated devices and doubts that higher legal prices would stop addicted pupils. It also set out the basic tax rate and the industry's opposition.
- “a new tax comes into force across the UK today aimed at making it less attractive to children and young people”
- “The vaping industry has lobbied against the new tax arguing they help people to quit smoking.”
- “they'll get them no matter what that won't beat an addiction a pound or two they'll find illegal measures to be able to get them”
ITV1 treated the tax as a major consumer story, with detailed price examples, customs limits and cigarette duty. Its consumer editor framed the change around 5.5 million UK vapers, retailer warnings about doubling prices and the inclusion of nicotine-free liquid. It balanced industry fears that the tax could backfire with anti-smoking campaigners who support it.
- “A tax on vapes came in today.”
- “It's going to be a public health time bomb in my opinion.”
- “If we lift the price of the cheapest products on the market, fewer children are likely to take up vaping.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.