Coping with costlier vapes after the Budget hike

When the Budget was released on the first of this month, there were two things that were being discussed among my peers more than anything else. “Is the minimum wage going up?” and, “are vapes going to be more expensive?”

Vaping among young people has been highly documented in recent years, as there has been a major increase in vape usage.

One can’t throw a wrapper in a public bin these days without seeing one of the stickers from a disposable vape stuck to it. On my own daily walks around the Dublin mountains, I am sure to see at least one Pineapple Ice Lost Mary left on the side of the road. We’ve seen events such as Electric Picnic ban disposable vapes, due to the litter that comes with them.

The fears of many were finally confirmed when an increase in the prices of disposable vapes was announced in Budget 2025. Starting in the middle of next year there is set to be a new tax on e-cigarettes.

A ban on disposable vapes was approved by the cabinet back in September, but with no word on when this will (if ever) come into effect. With a general election in a few weeks, this news was mostly laughed off by people in my own circle.

In most stores a disposable vape is priced at €8. This new tax will see a rise to €9.23. It wouldn’t be surprising if some retailers increased their prices further.

Mia (who requested anonymity) is a Maths student in TU Dublin, Grangegorman. She shed some light on the vaping situation.

“My mum and I get in constant screaming matches over it,” Mia said.

I quizzed Mia on the upcoming increase. Would it encourage her to quit? Is she more likely to purchase a reusable vape? How much money does she spend?

“A Lost Mary will usually last me just over three days, so I’m spending €16 every week on vapes, which isn’t the worst compared to a lot of my friends. €20 if it’s from a dodgy run convenience store. I’ve definitely seen more unbranded shops selling them for higher prices.”

When asked if she is feeling more motivated to quit vaping, Mia offered a simple and firm answer: “No.

“But with the price increase I will have to buy them less often, whether that means using it less or taking a day break in the middle of the week I’m not sure. It’ll be nearly an hours wages gone every time I buy one, so I’ll have basically worked for free.”

When asked if she is feeling more motivated to quit vaping, Mia offered a simple and firm answer: “No.”

Sarah is a business student, also in TU Dublin, and has been vaping for around four years. (This is another pseudonym. It is interesting that people will openly vape and smoke but there is still a lot of shame around it. This was another case of “My mother would not be happy if she somehow found me discussing my vape use online.”)

Sarah says she made the decision last year to switch to a reusable vape.

“I was just spending ridiculous money. I was going through a vape every day. Eight euro times seven days a week times fifty two weeks in a year.”

Sarah said that all of her friends vape too, and for any of them to quit is nearly comical to think about.

Does she worry about the long term health effects that a vape a day has on her? I take my time to ask the question with as little judgement in my tone as I can.

“Not really. I know that realistically I’ll vape for the rest of my time in college and then I’ll quit when I’m out in the real world.”

This is something that I have heard echoed a lot amongst my own friends.

The vape in hand seems to have become a sort of safety blanket for a lot of young students. Perhaps it was similar twenty years ago with cigarettes? I am too young to know, so can only pass observations on my own generation.