The Vape Tax Update
Where We Stand Right Now – Before the Tobacco & Vapes Bill LandsAt DarkStar, we always aim to keep our customers informed, especially during big changes to the vaping landscape, and right now, it's shifting fast! Disposables are now banned, and the Tobacco & Vapes Bill is moving through Parliament. Things may look calm on the surface, but behind the scenes, the industry is bracing for impact.The Calm Before the StormYes, disposables are gone. That change has already hit, however, as we predicted in our blog post last year, it made little difference to the reality on the ground, as manufacturers simply added a USB port and the ability to swap the pods while keeping the form and price essentially unchanged - research suggests that consumers use them as they did previously, and no significant gain was achieved.We’ve focused on supporting long-term vapers with DIY tools, One Shots, Bottle Shots and everything else that keeps vaping accessible and affordable. But even those options aren’t safe.The Tobacco & Vapes Bill is making its way through Parliament right now. It’s already passed key readings in the House of Lords and is expected to become law within the next year - we already know next year’s Black Friday will look completely different, not least due to the enormous tax planned for e-liquids which will see Short Fills selling for more than £30 each!The trouble is, the details are still completely unclear on what’s coming for the vape industry. For all we know, the vape scene this time next year could very well be unrecognisable.What’s Likely ComingThe government has been tight-lipped about the specifics, but what we do know isn’t reassuring. Based on current direction, we’re expecting:
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Heavy taxation on all e-liquids, both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free.
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Further flavour restrictions (not just for disposables)
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Standardised packaging: potentially plain, unattractive, and confusing
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A major increase in prices across the board
This would completely change how vaping works in the UK. DIY mixers, Short Fill users, and flavour chasers could find themselves priced out, or worse; without access to their preferred products at all. There’s been rumours of flavours being cut down to only tobacco and menthol, which will severely limit your options as a vaper.
Here are some examples of what the prices will look like according to current plans:
So Where Does That Leave Us?Right now, we’re in a window - a short one. This is likely the last pre-legislation Black Friday where you can:
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Grab Short Fills without added tax
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Order DIY concentrates in any flavour you like
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Buy nicotine shots in bulk, affordably
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Stock up on pods, coils, and hardware without looming restrictions
Once the Bill comes into force, these options may look very different. We’re going to see price hikes, product bans, or even forced reformulations that change your favourites beyond recognition.This is exactly why we’re urging our community: don’t wait.Black Friday this year isn’t just about snagging a few deals - it’s your best chance to get ahead of regulation, stock up, and save big before things start to tighten. If there’s ever been a time to load up the basket, this is it.We’re doing everything we can at DarkStar to prepare, but once this legislation drops, even we won’t be able to shield you from the impact. What’s available now might not be in a few months — and what’s cheap today could be triple the price next year, or more.10ml nic shots +£2.20100ml Short Fills +£22.00So let’s make this Black Friday count. Stock up. Get ready. Stay ahead.
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