The Vape Tax in Ireland: A Blow to Public Health and Consumer Freedom
The Irish government is proposing a new tax on vaping products that would see a 50 cent per milliliter tax introduced by mid-2025. This means that a standard 10ml bottle of e-liquid, such as popular brands like Elfliq, IVG, or OB Vape, would see a price hike from €5 to €10. This doubling of the cost will have a devastating impact on vapers across the country, making it harder for people to afford the healthier alternative to smoking.
A Punitive Tax That Hurts the Wrong People
The vape tax is a classic example of misguided policy. While the government continues to rake in billions from tobacco taxes, they now seek to impose additional financial burdens on vapers—people who are actively trying to improve their health. This move is not only short-sighted but downright harmful to public health.
Take Mary, a 60-year-old former smoker from Galway. Mary smoked for over 40 years, spending nearly €100 a week on cigarettes. "I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without coughing," she says. But when she switched to vaping, her health dramatically improved. "Now, I can walk up the stairs without a problem. My overall health is better, and I’m saving so much more than I ever did when I was smoking."
Mary's story is not unique. Thousands of people across Ireland have experienced the same benefits after making the switch to vaping. But with this proposed vape tax, these benefits are at risk of being erased. The government’s decision to tax vaping products sends a clear message: they prioritize revenue over people’s lives.
Why Vaping is the Solution, Not the Problem
Vaping has been proven to be 95% less harmful than smoking, according to the Royal College of Physicians. For many smokers, vaping is the most effective way to quit cigarettes permanently. By introducing this tax, the government is undermining years of progress made in helping people quit smoking and reduce the harm caused by tobacco.
Vaping is not the problem—it’s the solution. Instead of penalizing vapers, the government should be supporting them. Vaping products offer a lifeline to those who have struggled for years to quit smoking. Making these products more expensive through taxation will only drive people back to cigarettes, which are far more harmful and costly in the long run—not only for individuals but for the healthcare system as a whole.
What Can We Do? How to Fight This Tax
This vape tax doesn’t have to be inevitable. The power to stop it is in our hands. Here’s how you can take action and help prevent this disastrous tax from being implemented:
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Contact Your Local TD or Councillor: Head over to findmytd.ie to find your local TD or councillor. Send them an email explaining how vaping has benefited you or someone you know, and express your opposition to the vape tax. The more voices they hear, the more pressure they’ll feel to act.
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Use Social Media: Post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and tag your local TD or councillor. Share your story or simply voice your concerns about how this vape tax will harm vapers and public health. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
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Download Our Pre-Written Letter: We’ve made it easy for you to take action! By clicking here, you can download our pre-written letter template. Simply fill in your details and send it to your local TD. This means you can quickly and effectively share your concerns with the politicians who have the power to stop this tax from going into effect.
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Spread the Word: Talk to other vapers, smokers who are thinking about switching, and anyone who cares about public health. Let them know what’s happening and how they can help. The more people we have pushing back against this tax, the better our chances of stopping it.
Stand Up for Vaping, Stand Up for Public Health
This vape tax isn’t just about money—it’s about people’s lives. By imposing this tax, the government is pushing vapers back into the arms of Big Tobacco. If the goal is truly to improve public health, then penalizing those who have made the switch to a healthier alternative is the wrong approach.
We must stand up for vaping, and we must stand up for our right to make choices that improve our health and well-being. The government should be supporting vapers, not punishing them. Let’s do everything we can to stop this tax before it causes irreversible harm.
Take action today—contact your TD, use your voice on social media, download and send the template letter, and help spread the message: Vaping saves lives, and the vape tax threatens that.
Together, we can stop this unjust tax and ensure that vaping remains an affordable and accessible option for those who need it most.
