Vape shop fears new tax could put customers off

Jordon Chambers said many of his customers had quit smoking cigarettes due to high tax on tobacco but the new vape duty tax could see them return to cigarettes

A Worcestershire vape shop has admitted it has concerns that some customers could give up vaping due to a new tax.

Jordon Chambers, product manager for Connect 2 Vapes in Worcester, estimates 80% of his customer base switched to vaping due to tax hikes on tobacco.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in Wednesday's Budget that he would be introducing a new Vaping Products Duty from October 2026.

"We will probably lose a few customers, like the very new people to smoking who think as it is going up they might as well stick to smoking," said Mr Chambers.

Connect 2 Vapes has been open for 27 years and switched to selling mainly vape products a decade ago.

Discussing the Vaping Products Duty, Mr Chambers said: "We are hoping it won't go up a ridiculous amount, like tobacco does every year.

"Hopefully it is just a one off.

"We would not mind if it got increased every three or four years but every year is a little bit much for people who have only just stopped smoking."

Despite fears that some will go back to smoking, Mr Chambers said many long-standing customers have said they would "prefer sticking to vaping than change to anything else".

Thomas Schewitz said the new tax on vaping would not work and people should not be put off vaping

Customer Thomas Schewitz, who gave up smoking in August, said he could not understand why the government was trying to put people off vaping.

He said: "If they are taxing vaping that will put people off vaping so they should just stick to the cigarettes.

"I do not think it is going to work, I think they should just stick with tobacco and alcohol."

Duty on cigarettes is set to rise but the cost of drinking will not increase, as the freeze on alcohol duty will be extended to February next year.