E-liquids and mods have been spared an anticipated tax increase in the 2021 Irish budget to the relief of the Irish Vape Vendors Association (IVVA).

The price of cigarettes increased by 50c per packet as Ireland aims to meet its target of a smoke-free country by 2025. 

This now takes a pack of 20 cigarettes to €14. 

Declan Connelly from The Irish Vape Vendors Association (IVVA) welcomed the news, telling Vapouround:

“Irish Vape Vendors Association welcome the fact that Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe has decided NOT to add extra tax / excise duty to e-cigarettes and e-liquid in yesterdays Budget 2020.

“This is a very good measure for Public Health in that it helps to keep vaping for smokers affordable, and in turn helps encourage smokers to make the switch to vaping, a much safer alternative. “

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) had called for the government to raise the tax on e-liquid in the budget. 

In a statement, an IHF spokesperson welcomed the cigarette tax increase but expressed his disappointment that vape products were spared.

Chris Macey, Head of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation, said,

“The Programme for Government was explicit in the role of a targeted taxation regime to specifically discourage vaping and e-cigarettes, and there is clear evidence that tax increases on e-cigarettes are effective in reducing youth use.”

Macey previously said that over a fifth of teenagers in Ireland had used e-cigarettes.

He also expressed his scepticism over the claim the industry targeted products at adult, long-term smokers.

The IHF spokesperson argued that ‘branding that features cartoon characters, flavours such as candyfloss and bubblegum and aggressive marketing tactics on social media platforms used by teenagers show this claim is preposterous.’

Read more: ETHRA Launches Survey Ahead of TPD Review

Header Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay