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** 28 February 2024
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** UK
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** Budget 2024: Jeremy Hunt considers new vaping tax (#1)
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** Efforts to reduce smoking in pregnancy in Norfolk praised (#2)
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** UK
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** Jeremy Hunt is preparing to use next week’s budget to launch a duty on vaping alongside tax cuts for workers before a general election.

The chancellor is expected to announce a “vaping products levy” charged on manufacturers and importers of the liquid in vapes, Treasury sources said. It is anticipated the costs would be passed on to consumers with the hope that it would make the habit unaffordable for children.

The plans for a new levy on the liquid in vapes comes after ministers launched a consultation last year on “creating a smoke-free generation” while tackling a surge in the use of vapes by children.

The tax would be similar to 15 schemes in European countries, including Germany, where a €1.60 (£1.37) tax is charged on every 10ml of vape liquid, and Italy where the rate is €1.30. The EU is also planning a vaping levy across the 27-nation bloc.

The new tax in the UK would charge higher rates for products with more nicotine. There would also be a one-off increase in tobacco duty to ensure that vaping remains a cheaper alternative, with the two measures expected to raise more than £500m a year by 2028-29, according to the Times.

It comes after Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban smoking for the next generation by steadily increasing the legal smoking age in England so that tobacco would end up never being sold to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Source: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
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** Efforts to reduce smoking in pregnancy in Norfolk praised

A scheme offering pregnant mothers incentives to quit smoking could be rolled out across Norfolk.

Women who actively participated were offered £250 in shopping vouchers.
A report from the county's director of public health, Stuart Lines, said early results "have shown an increase in the number of quit dates set".

Researcher Caitlyn Notley said: "We know from evidence that incentives do work. You're more than twice as likely to quit if you're offered incentives."

The report from the Norfolk director of public health said: "The costs associated with smoking are substantial and estimated in Norfolk to be in the region of £872m each year, including costs of health care, social care, lost productivity, and house fires.

"Smoking in pregnancy can have significant effects on the baby - and the rates of smoking in pregnancy in Norfolk are above average."

Researcher Dr Notley, from the University of East Anglia (UEA), was part of a team conducting a "cessation of smoking" trial at six UK hospitals, including the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Out of 972 participants, one in four in the intervention group - who were offered advice, e-cigarette starter kits and referrals - reported quitting smoking at six months, compared to one in eight in the control group, where no help was offered.

Dr Notley said: "It really fits with the national policy and it is fantastic to see focus on increased funding for smoking cessation.

"We know from evidence that incentives do work. You're more than twice as likely to quit if you're offered an incentive.

"It's a highly cost-effective way and it's great that we've led in the region."

Source: BBC news, 28 February 2024

Editorial Note: In April 2023 the Government committed to roll out a national incentives scheme for pregnant women and recently closed the tender for delivering this scheme. It is expected to launch this year.
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