A vape is a mechanical device that vaporizes the liquid provided with it. It is meant to be inhaled and was originally innovated as an alternative for smokers. The use today is however for inhaling marijuana or just nicotine based, or non-nicotine fluid provided with the vape.
It has been a long debate amongst various governments of the world to tax vape products. While some, especially parents, view it as a positive step, most believe it to be wrong. It is also not a secret that most vape stores in The UK are against the idea of taxation on their products. The European Union recently stated that it will try to implement the taxation, but will it do any good? Let us see the benefits that the taxation will bring along with the drawbacks.
Reasons for Taxation
Since vapes are used by many young adults in the UK, taxing it would mean that the government would have more revenue in the Bank of England. This is the central bank for the United Kingdom and the surplus would allow the region to focus more on development, education and health.
Taxing vapes would make it harder for teenagers to get a hold of a vape. The main concern that comes when considering vaping from a parental point of view is that it may act as a gateway to other health diminishing products.
Nicotine or no nicotine, vaping has become addictive. The trend of vaping can be associated by how cigarettes became socially accepted. They were a symbol of class, elegance and celebrations. Doctors used to recommend cigarettes to the patients at one point and the harmful affects were discovered years later.
Reasons Against Taxation
An example can be taken from the USA. Taxing a vape makes it more expensive than, if not equal to, traditional cigarettes. This has caused a shift of preference from teenagers and young adults from inhaling a vape to inhaling cigarettes.
Smokers trying to quit smoking, will now relapse and go back to traditional smoking as it is cheaper and does not have any maintenance price tag associated with it. Considering that and the fact that a consumer does not have to pay extra for the flavor liquids for vape, makes it easy for one to relapse.
Taxation might not be the answer. As seen before, smokers who have no intention to quit, have paid up thousands and thousands of their savings to get the products they need. Hence, imposing a tax on vape products may lead to children spending their savings to get the product nonetheless. This will also be bothersome for the parents as they might be the ones unknowingly taking upon themselves a financial burden.
Conclusion
Again, taxation is up for debate. But it is highly likely that taxing vape products would lead to already addicted teenagers and young adults to shift to smoking cigarettes or consuming harmful nicotine based products. What might prove more promising than taxation is raising awareness amongst children and parents on vape.
