Guernsey vape retailers 'concerned' about impact of tax on liquid
'You never know'
Peter Bierley, who owns The Tuck Shop and Vape Head in town, was more relaxed about plans to tax vape liquids. He said: "Ultimately, customers will just have to pay that tax."Whether it will stop some people vaping - perhaps - I do not think it will turn people back to cigarettes, because we have been told they are going to increase the tax on cigarettes at a similar price."So you know, hopefully, not too much impact; but you never know."Sophie Dorfner, who also helps to run The Vape Bar, disagreed: "It is going to end up with people going back to smoking, because they are going to be priced out."
Unregulated products
At The Vape Bar, there was consensus that this was still at an early stage and firm proposals had not been submitted by P&R. However, the island's retailers have been invited to meet States officials about the plans. Sophie Dorfner warned taxing the products could have impacts on the local market.She said: "I do think you are going to end up with a lot of people buying things online that are unregulated."They do not know what is in the products, they do not know what they are buying; a lot of those are unregulated products have illegal THC products in.
"People are going to end up buying things just because they are a lot cheaper, not knowing what is in them, and that is going to cause more health issues in the long-run."Tina Dorfner said she would wait for firm proposals to be published before making a full judgement, but admitted she was "worried" about the plans. She said: "A lot of people are concerned about whether this will mean they give up vaping and go back to cigarettes, because, once all of this comes in, and also if GST [goods and sales tax] is brought in, it will be a much more expensive product."Last year, Guernsey's States agreed to introduce a 5% goods and services tax, alongside a lower rate of income tax for earnings under £30,000 and reforms to social security contributions. However, those plans are under review while P&R member Deputy Charles Parkinson looks at the island's corporate tax regime. P&R is set to publish the budget for 2026 on 7 October, for debate on 4 November.
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