A NEW tax on vapes will be included in this year’s government Budget to “dissuade” young Islanders from vaping, according to the Treasury Minister.
Deputy Elaine Millar said the policy was part of a broader effort to reduce nicotine consumption, focusing on improving public health rather than generating revenue.
The policy will be included in the government’s next set of spending plans, which require States approval and are usually debated at the end of the year.
Speaking at a recent Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel hearing, Deputy Millar said: “It is more about the health impacts of trying to dissuade children and young people from vaping, but that has to be balanced with the need to try and not encourage people to smoke instead.”
This comes after new data revealed that more than half of Islanders aged between 16 and 34 had used vapes at least once.
Public Health director Peter Bradley confirmed to the Scrutiny panel that the tax would follow a vaping awareness campaign and a new strategy that aimed to address both vaping and smoking set to launch early this year.
With single-use vapes due to be banned this summer, the strategy will explore tighter regulation around reusable e-cigarettes and other nicotine products to prevent further uptake among young people.
He said: “Vaping is known to be less harmful than smoking and is a useful method to help smokers quit.
“However, we have seen a rise in people choosing to vape, including young people.
“Although most young people don’t vape, we know we need to do more to protect our children and young people from the use of vapes and nicotine, while maintaining the appeal to adults who want to stop smoking.”
