New Vaping Regulations and E-Liquid Tax in Ireland: What You Need to Know
The vaping industry in Ireland is set to face significant changes starting mid-2025, following the introduction of a new e-liquid tax and potential regulatory shifts. Here’s what you need to know about the new measures and how they might affect vapers.
E-Liquid Tax: The Details
As part of Budget 2025, the government will implement an excise tax of €0.50 per millilitre of e-liquid. This tax will apply to all e-liquids, regardless of nicotine content, and is expected to increase prices:
- A disposable vape, now priced at around €8, could rise to €9.23.
- A 10ml bottle of e-liquid, currently €5, may increase to €10 (excluding VAT).
Proposed Regulations
The government is also considering other vaping-related measures:
- Banning disposable vapes to reduce environmental waste.
- Restricting certain flavours deemed appealing to younger users.
Our Position: Supporting Responsible Vaping
We believe vaping is an important harm-reduction tool for adult smokers looking to quit traditional cigarettes. While we fully support efforts to prevent underage vaping, we are concerned that these changes may not effectively stop young people from accessing vaping products. Instead, these measures could unfairly burden adult vapers who rely on e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative.
Vaper Reactions
The proposed changes have drawn mixed reactions:
- Some see the tax as a push to quit. Many users have expressed that the increased cost will make them reconsider their vaping habits.
- Others feel targeted. Adult vapers using e-cigarettes to quit smoking feel penalised by the changes, particularly as vaping remains cheaper and less harmful than smoking.
- Environmental considerations. Disposable vapes are a growing concern, with some users considering reusable devices to reduce waste and save money.
- Cost remains a factor. Despite the tax, vaping is still cheaper than smoking, meaning many adult vapers are likely to continue.
Why We Are Against Underage Vaping
We firmly stand against underage vaping and support reasonable measures to prevent it, including better enforcement of age restrictions and stricter retailer compliance. However, we are concerned that these new taxes and regulations will do little to stop young people from vaping while making it harder for responsible adults to access these products.
Conclusion
While we understand the intention behind these measures, we believe the new tax and proposed regulations unfairly impact adult vapers using e-cigarettes as a smoking alternative. We remain committed to promoting responsible vaping for adults while advocating for practical solutions to prevent underage use.
Stay informed and explore your options as we move toward mid-2025 and beyond. For any advice or product recommendations, feel free to reach out to us.