Trade body urges vapers and ex-smokers to respond to govt consultation

New research commissioned from leading market research company Opinium of 6,000 UK adults in November has shown that if a £5 tax was applied to vaping products, 25% responded that they would either smoke more cigarettes or switch to smoking and a further 12% said they would purchase illegal vapes.

A £5 tax would be counterproductive to meeting the government’s own smoke-free 2030 target (less than 5% of the UK adult population), according to the IBVTA.

Research also revealed that, of those who vape, 41% used fruit flavours and 8% used other flavours such as cola and vanilla most often.

59% reported that having a range of flavours helps them to reduce their smoking or from going back to smoking.

Chair of the IBVTA Marcus Saxton commented: “This new research shows that if the government were to restrict flavours or introduce a vape tax it would effectively push people back into smoking and damage the government’s chances of meeting its own smoke free 2030 target.

“We have no problem with proportionate regulation, but the government needs to look at the compelling and growing evidence before it introduces measures that will ultimately backfire.”

The IBVTA is running national advertising campaign calling on recent ex-smokers and those who vape, to respond to the government’s consultation on the future of vaping, and share their views.

The government is currently consulting on potentially introducing a tax and a ban on disposable vapes.

The consultation closes on 6 December.