The Devil’s in the Details: The Vape Tax and South Africa’s Struggle to Stay Above the Herd

Vaping in South Africa has become a hot topic, and no, it’s not just about the clouds of vapour. The government’s decision to impose a flat excise duty on e-liquids is raising more than just eyebrows in the vaping community—it’s leaving a bad taste in a lot of mouths. We’re not saying that regulations aren’t needed; far from it. But taxing vape products in this way? Well, that’s enough to make any seasoned vaper want to head for the hills. It’s not just a slap in the face—it’s a full-on stampede of issues.

The Flat Tax: Baa-d News for Consumers and Businesses Alike

The flat excise duty of R2.90 per millilitre, introduced on June 1, 2023, is being hailed as a simple solution by the government, but let’s call it what it is: a tax that penalizes the entire vaping community without taking into account the bigger picture. Here’s the thing—it doesn’t matter whether you’re a regular, seasoned vaper or just someone looking to quit smoking. The tax hits everyone in the same way, and that’s simply not the way to go about it.

Sure, taxing by nicotine percentage might have been a logistical nightmare. But come on—where’s the fairness in slapping a blanket tax on every bottle of e-liquid, regardless of nicotine strength? It’s like taking a whole herd of sheep and saying, “You all look the same, so we’re charging you the same price.” Meanwhile, the heavy smokers, the ones who need those high-nicotine vapes to kick the habit, are being punished by an overly simplistic system. It might be easy to implement, but is it fair? No way.

Why Not Target Disposables, Not Flavours?

Now, we’ve heard the talk about vaping being a gateway to smoking for youth. Fine, we get it. No one wants a generation of kids hooked on nicotine. But if you’re going to tax the daylights out of vaping, then why not focus on the real culprit—the disposable vapes? These one-and-done, candy-flavoured puffers are practically begging to be banned. They’re cheap, they’re enticing, and they’re too easy for teens to get their hands on.

Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater by banning flavours, why not crack down on disposables? They’re designed to be used once and tossed. That’s the real problem, not the flavourful e-liquids that allow adult smokers to choose something better than cigarettes. By focusing on the wrong target, the government’s efforts are about as effective as trying to herd goats uphill in a storm.

The Illicit Market: A Dangerous Path Down the Wrong Trail

Then there’s the issue with the tax driving people towards the illicit market. We’ve all heard about it—it’s happening already. Prices are climbing, and legitimate retailers are being forced to hike up their prices just to stay afloat. But guess what happens when prices rise? Consumers turn to the black market, where no one’s checking for safety, quality, or standards. The last thing we need is a rise in counterfeit, unregulated products flooding the market, putting vapers at risk.

It’s a classic case of making the wrong move and pushing people in the wrong direction. Instead of cutting down on the number of smokers, you might end up pushing more of them back into the arms of the very products you’re trying to phase out. This isn’t some goat-headed scheme—it’s a recipe for disaster.

What’s the Solution?

Here’s the deal: we need a tax that’s fair. We need a tax that actually targets the right things, not just the easy targets. By taxing disposables more heavily and making sure there’s clear oversight on the illicit market, we can keep vaping a viable option for adult smokers looking to make a change. If the government really wants to make an impact, they should be targeting the things that are contributing to health risks, not penalizing people who’ve already made the switch to a less harmful alternative.

Conclusion: Keep the Flavour, Get Rid of the Disposable Fad

Vape regulation is a tricky subject, no doubt about it. But the way things are going, it feels like the government is throwing out the good with the bad. Don’t take our flavours away—let us keep the taste that helps adults switch away from smoking. Get rid of the disposables that are all but designed to target kids. And please, no more blanket taxes that punish everyone equally. Vaping’s not the problem—misguided regulations are.

The truth is, South Africa’s vaping industry is at a crossroads. The government needs to steer clear of the wrong path and focus on the things that really matter. If we’re going to keep vaping a valid alternative to smoking, we need regulations that make sense, not just a knee-jerk response to a complex issue. Let’s herd this one in the right direction, shall we?