Spain to Introduce Vape Tax Similar to UK Proposals

As the UK faces new legislation under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, other countries are following suit. Spain is the latest to announce a tax hike on vape products. But will this tax hike do more harm than good by forcing ex-smokers back to cigarettes?

The proposed tax hikes in Spain would see the costs of vape juice increased per ml of liquid and per mg of nicotine. The plans would also see Spanish e-cigarettes without nicotine content treated in exactly the same way as cigarettes. In the new legislation, vape devices will be seen as the same as cigarettes in the eyes of the law. This in turn leads to tighter restrictions over where you can vape in public.

Key Takeaways:

• Spain introduces tax hike for e-liquids and vapes
• Proposals will see 15 cents added per ml of e-liquid
• Proposals will see 0.006 cents added per mg of nicotine
• Measures introduced as part of the annual budget
• Spanish tax hike “dangerously misguided” Say Smoke Free Sweden
• New regulations will see tobacco products and vape juice/devices the same in the eyes of the law

Spanish Tax Hike Part of New Vaping Legislation in Spain

The new legislation regarding vape devices in Spain will do more than just add taxes onto each purchase of vape juice – they will charge an extra tax whether the e-liquid contains nicotine or not. They will also change the way vapes can be used in public spaces, limiting and restricting their use in line with how cigarettes are treated. This will mean the mass exodus of vaping in certain public spaces.

The Spanish will bring a licensing scheme into play for those who sell vape devices. Again, this is an imitation of the new proposals set to come into law within the UK. Further, the ban will put an end to the sale of vape devices through vending machines unless those machines are somehow able to verify the clients’ age.

When giving reasons for the new legislation, Spanish law makers said that the new rules would prevent vape access to children.

Smoke Free Sweden Condemn New Spanish Vape Tax Hike

While the UK might be backing other countries following them down the path of vape taxation, Swedish organisation Smoke Free Sweden has called the hike ‘dangerously misguided.’ Speaking to the press, Dr Delon Human, the leader of Smoke Free Sweden, said that Sweden was on the verge of becoming smoke free and not because of tax hikes, but because they have encourages safer alternatives to smoking cigarettes. They warn that this back step could have a detrimental effect on smoking cessation.

The Swedes have created a whole anti-smoking culture using a few alternative products. Snus is the favourite, resulting in 44% less tobacco related deaths than the rest of Europe, a 41% lower cancer rate, and 38% fewer deaths due to a cancer. Sweden is very nearly a smoke free country.

Dr Human ended his speech by encouraging the Spanish government to rethink this incoming strategy. The same advice they gave the UK government not so many months ago.