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Poland’s new tax hike on vaping represents a complete setback for tobacco harm reduction efforts, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance
The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has said that it strongly opposes the Polish government’s decision to implement a new raise excise taxes on heated tobacco products and e-liquids for vaping. The government is aiming to reduce price differential between tobacco products and their substitutes to limit their consumption – thereby removing one main incentive for smokers to switch and quit smoking.
Under Poland’s new rules, eliquids for vaping will face a significant and unjustifiable hike in tax, similar to heated tobacco products, making vaping more expensive and less attractive to switch to. The World Vapers’ Alliance says that increasing taxes on vaping products often leads to unintended consequences.
“Numerous studies have shown that when the price of e-liquids rises, many users, especially young adults, switch back to traditional cigarettes. This cross-price effect undermines public health efforts by increasing smoking rates instead of reducing them,” stated the organisation.
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, emphasised: “Taxation must be proportional to the risks of products. Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, yet this tax treats it similarly, undermining public health. Smokers should be incentivised to switch, not pushed back to cigarettes due to higher prices.”
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