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Author: amovape
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France Declares War on Vapes: New Tax, Online Sales Ban, and Europe’s Toughest E-Cigarette Rules Yet
Paris, Autumn 2025 — The French government just dropped what might be the most dramatic plot twist in Europe’s nicotine saga.
Buried in the new 2026 Finance Bill is a bombshell:
France will tax e-cigarettes by volume, ban all online sales, and—most controversially—reclassify vapes as “smoking products.”That’s right. The same gadget once hailed as the savior of smokers is now legally lumped in with the cigarettes it was supposed to replace.
Bienvenue à la bureaucratie française.
🏛️ From Health Solution to Fiscal Target
For years, vaping in Europe lived under the halo of “harm reduction.”
It was the good kid of nicotine — less smoke, fewer chemicals, and a pat on the back from public health experts.But the French Treasury has just staged a quiet coup.
E-cigarettes have been snatched from the Health Ministry and handed over to the Ministry of Finance, transforming a public health tool into a taxable commodity.In bureaucratic terms:
It’s no longer about saving lives. It’s about balancing books.💶 The New Vape Math: Taxed, Tracked, and Tamed
The 2026 Finance Bill breaks it down with clinical precision:
- Nicotine ≤15mg/mL → €0.03 per mL
- Nicotine >15mg/mL → €0.05 per mL
That’s roughly €0.50 more per 10mL bottle — not devastating, but enough to sting.
However, the real gut punch is the online sales ban. Overnight, a third of France’s vape retailers lost their main source of income.
Gone are the indie vape shops and scrappy e-commerce entrepreneurs. What’s left? Licensed, brick-and-mortar tobacco retailers — the same ones who sell cigarettes.
In short, France is turning its open vape market into a government-licensed nicotine monopoly.
🧩 The Politics Behind the Puff
This isn’t just about taxes. It’s a political chess move wrapped in public health language.
The policy is part of France’s 2023–2027 National Tobacco Control Plan, which aims for what officials call a “health balance” — though critics say it’s closer to a “nicotine lockdown.”
Let’s recap France’s anti-vape timeline:
- 2025: Ban on disposable vapes.
- April 2026: Ban on all non-medical oral nicotine products (pouches, gums, lozenges).
- 2026: Full tax and reclassification of e-cigarettes as smoking products.
Translation: France is now the first country in Europe to restrict nicotine in all its forms — inhaled, chewed, or sucked.
And yes, that makes it sound like a nicotine apocalypse.
💰 Follow the Money: The Fiscal Fix
Behind all the health talk lies a far simpler truth — lost tax revenue.
For years, e-cigarettes enjoyed a regulatory honeymoon: low taxes, little oversight, fast profits. But as the industry grew, it quietly ate into France’s €14 billion annual tobacco tax stream.
So, the Finance Ministry did what finance ministries do best — it found a way to bring vapes back into the taxable family.
The new logic is simple:
“If it can be sold, it can be taxed. If it can be taxed, it can be controlled.”
Health rhetoric still decorates the press releases, but make no mistake — this is a fiscal operation disguised as a moral one.
🌍 The European Domino Effect
France isn’t acting alone — it’s setting the stage.
Across the EU, 15 member states are already discussing revisions to the 2011 Tobacco Tax Directive. Everyone’s got their calculator out, comparing nicotine tax rates:
Country Vape Tax Rate Notable Feature Germany €0.32/mL Highest tax, even for zero-nicotine liquids Spain €0.15–0.20/mL Mild, increasing annually Belgium €0.15/mL Includes nicotine-free products Finland €0.30/mL Pioneer of volume-based taxation Denmark €0.20–0.34/mL Tiered by nicotine strength France €0.03–0.05/mL Low tax, maximum control So while France’s tax isn’t the highest, its total regulatory chokehold now ranks No. 1 in Europe.
Industry insiders say Paris is creating a blueprint for the EU’s next wave of nicotine regulation — combining taxation with prohibition.
In other words: “Europe, you’re next.”🔥 Smoke-Free? Maybe. Control-Free? Never.
The 2026 French Finance Bill doesn’t just change how vapes are taxed — it redefines what they are.
E-cigarettes are no longer the rebels of public health. They’re now just another taxable vice — packaged neatly under “smoking products,” right beside the Marlboros and Gauloises.
Independent vape brands and online retailers? Collateral damage.
Big tobacco? Conveniently ready to take over.What began as a harm-reduction movement has officially become a revenue-reduction maneuver — for everyone except the government.
💭 The Bottom Line
France’s new vape law marks a philosophical shift:
The age of “innovation and harm reduction” is giving way to an era of fiscal order and political control.When the state stops asking, “Is this healthier?” and starts asking, “Can we tax it?”, you know the revolution is over.
As one Parisian vape shop owner put it:
“We were helping people quit smoking. Now we’re treated like we’re helping them rob the treasury.”
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From Gold Rush to Grown-Up: The Three Booms (and Crashes) That Shaped China’s Vape Industry
Over the past decade, China’s e-cigarette industry has lived through a full-blown business epic — complete with overnight fortunes, government crackdowns, and global adventures gone sideways.
It started with chaos and gold fever, matured through capital frenzy, and now limps into an era of hard-earned sobriety.
If this industry had a movie title, it’d probably be called:
“Three Booms and Three Hangovers.”💰 First Boom: The Wild West Years (2014–2018)
Once upon a time — before regulations, taxes, or anyone even asking “is this legal?” — the e-cigarette world was a paradise for hustlers.
Factories in Shenzhen and Dongguan were cranking out vapes faster than TikTokers post selfies. A stick that cost a few yuan to make could sell overseas for dozens of dollars.
Everyone was getting rich — or at least pretending to be.
If you could copy fast, ship faster, and not blow up your customer’s battery, you were a legend.
But behind the cash and chaos, the cracks were forming:- Fires and malfunctions made headlines,
- Products looked and tasted the same,
- Consumers were clueless, and
- Regulators were quietly sharpening their pencils.
Everyone knew the hammer would fall — but hey, when you’re sprinting through a gold rush, who’s got time for self-reflection?
🚀 Second Boom: The RELX Era (2018–2021)
Then came the brand that changed everything — RELX.
In just three years, this startup turned vaping from a dusty factory product into a sleek lifestyle statement. Suddenly, vapes weren’t just “things you smoke” — they were accessories.
Investors went feral.
Sequoia, IDG, and every VC with caffeine in their bloodstream jumped in.Within two years, China had hundreds of new vape brands, thousands of stores, and an ocean of optimism. Everyone believed they were building “the next Xiaomi of smoking.”
Then, in 2021, RELX went public. Its valuation hit $30 billion — and for one shiny moment, everyone in the industry thought they were untouchable.
Until, of course, the National Tobacco Administration said:
“Hold my pen.”A new regulation brought e-cigarettes under tobacco law.
The party ended instantly.
Investors vanished. Shops shut down. The “next Xiaomi” dreams went up in vapor.That was the industry’s first real sobering slap — the second boom was over.
✈️ Third Boom: The Great Escape (2021–2023)
When domestic rules tightened, Chinese vape makers did what they do best: adapt fast.
They went global — to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
It worked like a charm.Foreign markets had weak regulation and strong demand.
Orders exploded. TikTok, Shopee, and Amazon couldn’t restock fast enough.“Going overseas means instant profit,” people said — and for a while, it was true.
But 2023 brought a rude awakening:
- The UK, France, Australia, and the US all tightened laws.
- Taxes rose, import licenses got messy, and “gray exports” turned red flags.
By 2024, even overseas, the gold rush was fading.
Those who hadn’t built real brands or long-term systems were back where they started — fighting price wars for survival.🧩 Three Booms, Three Lessons: From Luck to Logic
Every surge in this industry came from external opportunities, and every crash came from internal weakness.
For ten years, success meant being fast:
Fast to launch, fast to ship, fast to cash in.Now?
Speed has turned into a burden.
The new game isn’t “who runs fastest,” but who builds strongest.The key questions have changed:
- Can you operate efficiently under tight regulation?
- Can you build a recognizable brand when advertising is banned?
- Can you grow steadily instead of just quickly?
Welcome to vaping’s fourth phase: the era of long-term value.
🏗️ From Fast Money to Firm Foundations
The golden age of shortcuts is over.
Regulation, investor caution, and global policy shifts are forcing vape makers to evolve from “opportunity businesses” to “system businesses.”
The next winners won’t be those who sprint — they’ll be those who endure.
Those who:- Think strategically,
- Build real brands based on trust and culture,
- Develop safer, more consistent products, and
- Create organizations that don’t collapse when the founder sneezes.
It’s less flashy, less frenzied — but far more sustainable.
💭 Epilogue: The Marathon After the Sprint
Three booms gave birth to giants.
Three crises humbled them all.The vape game is no longer about “who gets rich fast” — it’s about “who stays alive longest.”
The bonus rounds are over. The real test begins now.
Because when the smoke clears, the future belongs to those who can build, not chase.
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Japan’s Heat-Not-Burn Boom: Half of Smokers Switch to Flameless Tobacco as IQOS and Ploom Dominate
In a plot twist that would make any public-health official smile, Japan’s heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products have quietly taken over nearly 50% of the nation’s cigarette market.
According to a report from Sankei, HNB devices like IQOS, Ploom, and glo now outsell traditional smokes across Tokyo and Kyushu — the country’s trendiest and smokiest corners.So yes, Japan didn’t just kick the cigarette habit. It upgraded it.
🚛 Corporations and City Halls: Teaming Up to Snuff Out Smoke
Japan’s anti-smoking movement has turned into a tag-team match between companies and local governments — with a mix of corporate incentives and municipal engineering.
Take Fuji Transport Co., for example.
Truck drivers — historically heavy smokers — were encouraged to switch to HNB devices years ago. The company even pays half the price of these devices for employees, arguing that cleaner air inside trucks means happier drivers (and fewer complaints about the “ashtray on wheels” smell).The results?
Most of Fuji’s smokers have ditched traditional cigarettes entirely — proof that sometimes it takes a discount to detox.Meanwhile, Suita City, near Osaka, has declared itself a “Smoke-Free City” and built new enclosed “Quit-Support Booths” where people can vape or heat their tobacco in peace — no open flames, no angry pedestrians.
Other local governments are catching on fast.
World-heritage towns like Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture and Shirakawa Village in Gifu are also designating flame-free smoking areas — not just for public health, but to cut fire risks around their precious wooden landmarks.The message is clear: keep your heritage, not your ashes.
📈 Japan’s Big Three: IQOS, Ploom, and glo Blaze Ahead
Japan’s heat-not-burn race is dominated by three major brands — and all are heating up (pun very much intended).
- Philip Morris International’s IQOS remains the reigning champion.
According to PMI data, since its 2014 launch, IQOS has grown its market share to 47.1% nationwide by the end of last year — and in Tokyo, it’s already past the halfway mark.
Sales were up 13% year-on-year, and the number of Japanese IQOS users hit 9.5 million. - Japan Tobacco’s Ploom X is catching up fast. CEO Masamichi Terabatake says sales are climbing steadily, and the company plans to double down on Ploom investments as a long-term growth priority.
- British American Tobacco’s glo rounds out the top three, holding its own in Japan’s east-west divide — with Kanto (Tokyo and beyond) leading adoption, while the Kansai region remains a little more old-school about its smoking habits.
🔥 From Fire to Firmware: Japan’s Smokers Evolve
It’s been 10 years since HNB products hit Japanese shelves, and what started as a niche gadget has now gone mainstream — helped by government cooperation, clever corporate strategies, and a tech-savvy population that loves anything rechargeable.
In a country where vending machines can sell you coffee, curry, or socks, it was only a matter of time before the cigarette got its own hardware upgrade.
🧠 The Takeaway
Japan didn’t outlaw smoking; it out-innovated it.
By turning heat-not-burn products into the new normal, it’s leading a quiet public-health revolution — proving that when tech meets tobacco, even an old habit can learn new tricks. - Philip Morris International’s IQOS remains the reigning champion.
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Smoore International’s Record Q3: Heat-Not-Burn and Vape Business Both Surge 27%
October 12, 2025 — Vape titan Smoore International (06969.HK) just dropped its unaudited Q3 financial update, and let’s just say business is smoking.
The company posted RMB 4.197 billion in third-quarter revenue — up 27.2% year-over-year and 27.5% quarter-on-quarter — hitting an all-time high.Even better, both its heat-not-burn and vaporization businesses are glowing brighter than a fresh coil.
💸 Quarter Highlights: Puff, Profit, Repeat
- Revenue: RMB 4.197 billion — a new single-quarter record.
- Adjusted profit: RMB 444 million, up 4% year-on-year and 4.8% quarter-on-quarter.
- Nine-month performance: RMB 10.21 billion in revenue (+21.8%), and RMB 1.182 billion in adjusted profit (+0.1%).
That’s not just healthy — that’s “ran a marathon while inhaling profits” healthy.
🚀 Two Growth Engines: B2B Power + Brand Brilliance
Smoore’s growth isn’t a fluke — it’s running on a twin-turbo system:
1️⃣ Enterprise Business: Heat-Not-Burn + Smart Vaporization
On the heat-not-burn front, Smoore is fueling major global clients to launch new products in key markets. The result? Big shipment gains and rapid revenue growth — proof that even when you take the fire out of smoking, the numbers can still be lit.
Meanwhile, its vaporization division keeps shining thanks to its regulatory sixth sense. As more countries crack down on non-compliant products, Smoore has been the straight-A student of the industry — helping clients design fully compliant, region-specific devices.
In other words: while competitors scramble to keep up with the rulebook, Smoore’s already on the next chapter.
2️⃣ Self-Owned Brands: New Products + Local Love
- Product upgrades: Smoore’s flagship 2025 lineup didn’t just get a facelift — it got a standing ovation. Consumers keep flocking to the updated models, driving long-term growth.
- Localized operations: The company doubled down on cultural fit, tailoring marketing strategies to match each country’s vibe. More local presence = more market share.
Together, these moves helped the brand division pull off strong year-on-year growth — and probably earned a few new fan clubs along the way.
💡 What’s Driving Profit: Three Little Words — Revenue, Efficiency, and Luck
Smoore’s not just earning more; it’s earning smarter.
- Higher revenue and gross margin (that’s the easy part).
- Controlled spending: Distribution, admin, and R&D costs all grew slower than revenue.
- More “other income” (aka that mysterious bonus line accountants smile about).
When your expenses grow slower than your sales, you’re doing business right.
🧾 A Tiny Disclaimer (Because Lawyers Exist)
Smoore noted that these figures are based on unaudited internal accounts and may differ slightly from its final audited report.
But honestly? Even if they’re off by a hair, the direction’s clear: up and to the right.🌍 The Takeaway
In a market clouded by regulation, competition, and copycats, Smoore is still breathing easy — with record revenue, steady profits, and a double-engine strategy that keeps it ahead of the pack.
Its latest performance isn’t just a quarterly win — it’s a message to the global vaping industry: the big dogs are still running, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
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How Vape Brands Can Find Their Blue Ocean: Stop Chasing Everyone, Start Serving Someone
In today’s info-overloaded world, trying to please everyone usually means you end up pleasing no one.
And nowhere is that truer than in the vape industry — a battlefield filled with tough competition, ad restrictions, and regulators who seem allergic to fun.You can pour in 100% effort and still only get 1% back. So the smarter brands are asking:
“Instead of throwing money at everyone, what if we focused on the right people?”Welcome to the world of niche blue oceans — where smaller markets can lead to bigger wins.
🌊 Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean: Don’t Be Better, Be Different
Most vape brands are still fighting in the same red ocean — mass-market chaos.
They all want to be “for everyone,” which is like trying to sell one flavor of bubble tea to an entire city.The result?
- Price wars that kill profit.
- Products that all taste the same.
- And ad rules that make everyone sound equally boring.
Here’s the truth bomb: being “better” isn’t enough anymore.
You need to be different — even slightly different — in a way that solves one group’s real problem.That “tiny difference” might not matter to the world, but it’ll mean everything to your tribe.
🎯 Go Small, Go Deep: Slice Your Market Like a Chef
Why chase all vapers when you can own one corner of the market?
Examples:
- Red Ocean brand: “Our vape is for everyone!” (and sells to no one)
- Blue Ocean brand: “Our vape is designed for stylish young professionals who want something slim, chic, and discreet between meetings.”
Or maybe it’s for hikers who want long battery life. Or travelers who want flavors that last longer than their flights.
Smaller focus = sharper value. Every dollar you spend hits your target right between the lungs.
💎 Super Users: Less Crowd, More Crown
If niche strategy is about who you serve, then super users decide how much value you create.
Super users are your brand’s die-hard fans — the ones who buy everything you release, brag about it online, and drag their friends into your DMs.
Forget chasing 100 random customers with “meh” satisfaction.
Focus on 10 loyal ones who’ll happily pay extra for:- Exclusive flavors,
- Personalized devices,
- Or VIP perks like custom engraving or limited editions.
Give 10 people a 120% experience, and they’ll do your marketing for free.
💋 What Chanel Can Teach Vapers
When Coco Chanel launched her minimalist women’s designs in a world obsessed with corsets, everyone thought she’d lost it.
Instead, she created a global luxury empire by serving one very specific group: independent, elegant women who wanted freedom.Vape brands can do the same:
- Differentiate: Offer bold designs or unexpected flavors instead of chasing “mass appeal.”
- Focus: Pick one user segment and make their lifestyle part of your brand’s identity.
- Premiumize: Turn community, exclusivity, and experience into value — not just vapor.
🧭 Your Blue Ocean Action Plan
1️⃣ Pick your lane: Identify a niche group — not “all vapers,” but maybe “female professionals,” “gym lovers,” or “digital nomads.”
2️⃣ Find your superfans: Data, surveys, social media — figure out who actually loves you and why.
3️⃣ Build the experience: From packaging to after-sales, make them feel like insiders, not customers.
4️⃣ Shape your story: When ads are banned, your brand story and community become your loudest megaphone.💡 So Where’s the Blue Ocean Hiding?
It’s in the small stuff — those oddly specific, unmet needs:
- People who want high style and low odor.
- Users who need durability on outdoor trips.
- Smokers who crave less flavor, more feel.
- Expats who miss Chinese tea or fruit flavors.
The smaller your circle, the sharper your brand.
Because in vaping — as in fashion — it’s not about reaching everyone; it’s about becoming irreplaceable to someone.✍️ Conclusion
The vape industry’s red ocean is overcrowded and bleeding margin.
But the blue ocean of niche demand is wide open.Success now depends on:
- Precision, not size.
- Difference, not perfection.
- Super users, not everyone.
So stop chasing the crowd. Find your tribe, thrill them endlessly — and you’ll find your blue ocean, even in a haze of smoke.