Vietnam has passed a law banning vapes and vaping. The law is set to come into effect from next year.
Of note, Vaping360 a vaping retailer and pro-vape website has covered this issue in a somewhat aggressive op-ed. But whereas the tone and wording might be a smidge hyperbolic it does raise a good point in that Vietnam has one of highest smoking rates in the world and therefore banning a less-harmful alternative does seem counterproductive.
It also goes on to suggest that the ban was implemented to protect the profits of Vinataba, Vietnam’s state-owned tobacco firm.
On that note, this week Vinataba issued a press release in which it announced several key achievements for the year so far, including an increase in its market share of 2 percent and VND 13 trillion or US$512.5 million paid in taxes. It also lists several challenges facing the tobacco industry including cigarette smuggling and “illegal new-generation cigarettes (READ: vapes), affecting the consumption of traditional cigarettes and causing losses to the state budget.”
This may also shed some light on the challenges facing an increase to Vietnam’s Special Consumption Tax.
See also: Tax in Vietnam