If you’re a vaper in the UK, you’ve probably heard a few things floating around about new laws and price changes coming this year. Some of it sounds alarming, some of it is a bit confusing, and a lot of it is being blown out of proportion online.
So let’s just cut through the noise and talk about what’s actually happening, what it means for you, and why vaping is still very much worth it.
The Big One — Prices Are Going Up in October
The most significant change hitting vapers this year is a new tax called the Vaping Products Duty, which kicks in on 1 October 2026.
From that date, every 10ml of e-liquid sold in the UK will have an extra £2.20 added to it. And because VAT gets applied on top of that, the real increase works out to around £2.64 per 10ml.
So if you’re used to picking up a 10ml bottle for around £1, expect that same bottle to cost closer to £3.20 after October.
That’s a noticeable jump, no question. But before you panic — keep reading, because context matters here.
Does This Cover Everything?
Pretty much yes. The tax applies to all vaping liquids — nic salts, shortfills, nicotine shots, prefilled pods. It doesn’t matter whether the liquid contains nicotine or not. Even plain shortfills get hit with the full rate.
The one thing that’s not affected is hardware. Your device, coils, tanks, pods — none of that is touched by this tax. It’s purely on the liquid itself.
Is Vaping Still Cheaper Than Smoking?
Yes. And this is the part that gets lost in all the headlines.
Even with the new tax added on, vaping remains significantly cheaper than smoking cigarettes. The government actually knew this and made sure it stayed that way — they’re raising tobacco duty at the same time specifically to keep the price gap between smoking and vaping in place.
So if you’re currently vaping as a way to save money compared to cigarettes, that’s still very much the case after October. The value is still there.
What About Disposable Vapes?
If you haven’t heard already — disposable vapes have been banned in the UK since 1 June 2025. That’s already done and dusted. Single-use, non-rechargeable vapes are no longer legal to sell anywhere in the country, whether online or in a physical shop.
What’s still completely legal are refillable vape kits and pod systems with swappable, replaceable pods. So if you’ve already made the switch to a refillable device — you’re good. If you haven’t yet, now is definitely the time.
What's the Tobacco and Vapes Bill?
You might have also seen mentions of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which has been making its way through Parliament and is now very close to becoming law.
The big headline from this one is that it will eventually make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The idea is to phase out smoking entirely for the next generation — a smoke-free generation, as the government calls it.
For vapers, the bill also gives the government new powers to regulate flavours, packaging, and advertising further down the line. Nothing has been confirmed on flavours yet — any changes would go through public consultation first — but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
What Do Retailers Need to Do?
If you run a vape shop or sell vaping products, there are a few things you need to be across ahead of October.
From 1 April 2026, businesses can start applying for approval under the new duty scheme. You’ll want to get this done well before October to avoid any disruption to your stock or sales.
From 1 October 2026, all qualifying products sold will need to carry duty stamps on the packaging — similar to how alcohol and tobacco products work — to show that the tax has been paid. This will affect how products are packaged and imported, so if you’re a retailer or importer, now is the time to get your processes sorted.
What Stays the Same?
Quite a lot, actually. Vaping is still completely legal in the UK for adults aged 18 and over. The existing product rules remain in place — nicotine strength is still capped at 20mg/ml, e-liquid bottles are still limited to 10ml, and tank capacity stays at 2ml.
There’s still no nationwide indoor vaping ban either. Most businesses set their own policies, but the law itself hasn’t changed on that front.
The Bottom Line
Yes, prices are going up in October. That’s real and it’s worth knowing about. But the bigger picture here is that vaping in the UK is still well-regulated, still supported as a smoking cessation tool, and still considerably cheaper than smoking.
If anything, now is a smart time to stock up on your favourite e-liquids before October hits, or to think about switching to larger format bottles to get more value per ml.
And if you’ve been thinking about making the switch from cigarettes to vaping — don’t let the tax headlines put you off. Even after October, you’ll still be saving a significant amount compared to what a cigarette habit costs.
Browse our full range of e-liquids, nic salts and vaping products at nemohomes.co.uk — and get ahead of the October price changes while current prices last.