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Hold onto your vape pens; soon South Africans could be paying even more for a hit of ‘peach ice’ choef. 

There’s a new bill proposed by the South African government in the pipeline that is expected to hike the prices of nicotine and nicotine-substitute solutions, like vaping devices.

The new tax proposal comes after the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill was greenlit by the governmental cabinet in October, aimed at regulating the sale and advertising of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems.

Under the new sin tax regime, these products will fall under the tax net with a flat excise duty rate of R2.90/ml starting from June 1, as outlined by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

But industry experts and advocates for tobacco harm reduction are not taking this one lying down. Many have since raised concerns and appealed to the government to reevaluate the recently introduced tobacco bill.

According to those opposing the bill, the adoption of harm reduction strategies in lieu of excessive taxation would make more sense for Saffas.

Dr Kgosi Letlape, president of the African Harm Reduction Alliance, critiqued the bill for its perceived ostracizing effect on smokers and those opting for safer alternatives (for example, the many smokers who have lowered their nicotine intake by switching to vape alternatives).

“It does not provide solutions, and if passed, it will be at the cost of human rights and human lives.”

Highlighting the need for informed choices, Letlape urged the government to acknowledge the ethical imperative of sharing information about tobacco harm reduction products that can mitigate the damage caused by smoking.

“Stop painting everything with the same brush, we are urging our president to secure a smoke-free country and to save the lives of millions of cigarette smokers. We should go beyond the smokescreen about the industry. The focus should be on the interests of the smoker.”

He emphasized the necessity for policymakers to scientifically assess the risks associated with combustion versus non-combustion and recommended aligning actions accordingly, as opposed to slapping yet another tax on citizens.

Calling for a nuanced approach, Letlape pointed to successful examples, such as Sweden, where diverse strategies for smokers have yielded impressive results.

Branislav Bibic, MD of Philip Morris South Africa, underscored the importance of considering products that substitute cigarettes for adults unable to quit:

“We can’t avoid the need to travel, but we can buckle our seat belts for safety. Similarly, tobacco harm reduction strategies can mitigate the known risks of smoking.”

While advocating for smokers to quit tobacco and nicotine completely, Bibic acknowledged the existence of scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives that offer a less harmful option for those who continue to smoke.

“These products and their potential to benefit public health are central to our vision of a smoke-free future,” Bibic concluded.

While vaping is on the rise in SA, and there are still many ‘unknowns’ when it comes to the sweet-smelling e-cigs, surely yet another taxation ‘control’ method reeks of laziness?

Maybe if we all choef at once, government officials won’t be able to see the bill through the cloud of ‘cool grape’.

[source:timeslive]