Georgia May Tax Vapor Products

According to Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia's legislature passed a measure last Friday authorizing a tax on vapor products. The bill also raises the minimum age for smoking and vaping in the U.S. from 18 to 21.

The measure imposes a 7% excise tax on vaping products such as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and hookahs.

The vaping tax was added to a separate bill that raised the minimum age for using tobacco and vape products to 21. The bill passed the Senate on Thursday with a vote of 123-33 and was approved last Friday with a vote of 45-8. It is now headed to Governor Brian Kemp for signature.

Vapor product manufacturers and vape shop owners oppose the excise tax and new licensing rules, arguing that raising prices on vaping products may lead smokers to revert to cigarettes after developing a habit of using smoke-free products.