FUMING
Vaping will cost more under plans to hike taxes for liquid by a quarter
The measures will see the smoking age increased by a year every year
BRITS who vape are facing a tax hike - with prices set to rocket by a quarter.
Vapers will be slapped with higher prices as part of a smoking crackdown to stop children from buying e-cigs.
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Disposable vapes have soared in popularity in recent years due to their appealing colourful and fruity-flavoured taste.
Worried ministers are now introducing a new levy on e-cigs in a matter of months.
They will take “action on the affordability of vapes, including exploring a new duty on vapes as other countries have done”.
A tax on vaping will be officially introduced as part of the Budget due to be unveiled on March 6.
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It could be up to a quarter more expensive for e-smokers to snap up vaping liquid.
The move comes in a bid to prevent children from getting their hands on vapes.
The Government will find measures to “restrict the sale and supply of disposable vapes, including considering prohibiting their sale”.
These include a total ban on disposable vapes that kids can afford to buy with their pocket money.
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Despite the tax hike, the price will still be less than cigarettes as they try to encourage smokers to switch to vaping.
They plan to “ensure that there is a significant differential between duty vapes and tobacco products”.
Brits can still save around £670 per year from switching to vaping.
Rishi Sunak already announced tough anti-smoking measures that will see the smoking age increased by a year every year to eventually make it illegal for anyone to buy cigarettes.
But Mr Sunak said: "People take up cigarettes when they are young. Four in five smokers have started by the time they are 20. Later, the vast majority try to quit.
"But many fail because they are addicted and they wish had never taken up the habit in the first place."
It comes as scientists revealed vapers throw away enough unused batteries every year to power thousands of Tesla cars.
A study by Oxford University and University College London found Brits bin 1.3million of the e-cigarettes every week – nearly 68m per year.
Oxford scientist Professor Paul Shearing estimates the amount of electricity wasted in landfill could power 1,900 Tesla Model S cars or around 8.5million smartphones.
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