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Scotland health minister calls for minimum prices on vapes and tobacco. Because he fears that the current prices are being “artificially” lowered.
Improving the minimum price on vapes to protect the youth?
Figures from Public Health England (PHS) show that vaping among Scottish teenagers is rising rapidly. According to a 2022 industry report, 25% of 15-year-olds have used vapes in the past 30 days. This data was only 7% in 2018. Besides, police seized £15,000 worth of illegal tobacco and vapes during raids in Lancaster and Morecambe.
A report from the bureau, “Stopping tobacco smoking and youth vaping” says the tobacco industry artificially lowers the prices of its cheapest cigarettes. They aim to encourage people to start and maintain the smoking habit, as does the price of vape.
“The importance of product price is recognized by the UK and Scottish governments. One option that could be considered is the introduction of a minimum price for vapes and a higher minimum price for tobacco.”
Also, the report says restricting the supply of these products “needs to be considered”. And it also supports the government’s proposal for bare packaging of vapes.
The Scottish Conservatives say the measures in the latest UK Budget had essentially set a minimum price for these products. This includes a significant increase in tobacco taxes and new taxes on vaping products starting in 2026. Dr Sandesh Gulhane, deputy health secretary of the Scottish Conservative Party, emphasized that the Conservative Party has called for the law on vapes to be updated to bring it into line with tobacco-related regulations.
“We’d also ban the sale of non-nicotine vaping products to under-18s. And increase fines for those who illegally sell vapes and tobacco to under-18s. (This is) a law that is currently widely flouted and poorly enforced.”
Vape company reaction to the vape price.
We asked VPFIT to comment on this from a vape manufacturer’s perspective.
“The proposal for minimum prices on vapes and tobacco in Scotland raises concerns. Ensuring fair pricing is important, but artificially high prices may hinder vape’s accessibility. This may also discourage smokers from transitioning to less harmful alternatives like vapes.” Mr. Franky Zhou, GM of VPFIT says.
On one hand, keep the vapes affordable and encourage adult smokers to switch to vapes. And, at the same time, address any concerns about undercutting or appealing to youth. It is important to strike a balance between them.
Thus, this will need collaboration between vape manufacturers, regulators, and health authorities. It can help ensure evidence-based policies that prioritize harm reduction and public health.
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