King Charles Reaffirms UK Vaping Policy: Considering a Tax and Ban on Disposable Vaping Products

The UK government is considering taxation to create a “smoke-free generation,” along with stricter restrictions that would prohibit the sale of tobacco and vapes to children under 14.

According to a breaking report by The Guardian on November 7, King Charles III said in a speech that the UK government would impose stricter restrictions on vapes and may consider taxing vaping products in the future to create a “smoke-free generation.” 

In fact, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a similar statement one month earlier. 

The King’s Speech outlined the government’s priorities for next year and indicated that, after the consultation process ends, legislation will be introduced to tighten the rules. 

The measures under consideration include:

• Restricting how vapes are described in marketing;

• Restricting vape flavors to tobacco only, or to tobacco and menthol only;

• Banning the in-store display of vapes in the same way cigarettes are restricted;

• Introducing plain packaging, with no more cartoon or animal imagery;

• Banning disposable vapes.

In addition, the speech proposed introducing a new vape tax through the national VAT system. Around 40 countries have already implemented similar measures. At present, vapes are generally cheaper than traditional cigarettes, and a vape tax would raise their retail prices. 

According to The Guardian, the tax rate on vapes would be lower than that on cigarettes, while the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would ensure that young people currently aged 14 and under will never be able to legally buy cigarettes in the UK. 

According to the UK government, smoking costs the country £17 billion each year, including £14 billion in lost productivity and £3 billion in costs to the NHS and healthcare system, making the £10 billion in tobacco tax revenue look comparatively small.