While a few days ago, we discussed the tax in Ireland on e-cigarettes (See article) today the associations for the defense of the vape put themselves forward to explain how it would be catastrophic. Indeed, even if a tax would be complicated to put in place for the moment, nothing says that this cannot be done in the more or less near future.
FOR IRISH VAPE VENDORS, WE MUST FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM!
« We would like to recall the government's own figures which state that in Ireland 19 people die a day from a smoking-related illness and that each smoking-related hospital admission costs an average of € 7.700.
E-cigarettes are an opportunity to improve the health of smokers by changing their habits to something that is much less risky. However, there is a risk that a tax on tobacco products creates the misconception that e-cigarettes are as dangerous as tobacco and leaves smokers in the habit of smoking. There is also the risk that current smokers who wish to switch to e-cigarettes (especially those on low incomes) decide not to do so for financial reasons.
If the government wishes to reduce the number of deaths from smoking, it should do everything in its power to protect the appeal of these products to current smokers by promoting their use through awareness campaigns. and highlighting their relative risk. The UK, and England in particular, has taken a much more pragmatic approach in this regard. For example, Prof Robert West of University College London, estimates that vaping has allowed 20.000 smokers each year to quit smoking, it could not have happened with other means of stopping smoking .
So if the government continues on this road and applies taxes to e-liquids, the public will see a simple punishment for ex-smokers following the loss of income on tobacco. »
