A British tourist has warned travellers heading to Thailand not to pack vapes in their luggage after her partner was fined 40,000 Thai Baht, during a family holiday. Sara shared her experience on TikTok after she and her partner were stopped twice by Thai police within three days for using electronic cigarettes on a beach.
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Thailand welcomed more than 1 million British visitors in 2025 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, with many tourists drawn by the country’s warm climate, street food and beaches. However, Thai law bans all e-cigarettes and vaping products, including nicotine-free devices, and authorities can impose heavy penalties on those caught possessing or using them.
Sara said police approached the couple while they were vaping on sunbeds at the beach. She claimed officers confiscated the devices, they had brought with them for the holiday and ordered them to accompany police for questioning.
She said: “I’m in Thailand, and in the past three days, I’ve had two run-ins with the police. If you’re thinking about vaping in Thailand, just don’t do it. It’s not worth it. We didn’t realise how strict it was on vaping out here.”
According to Sara, her partner was taken to a police station while she remained outside with their three children. She alleged officers intended to hold him overnight before taking him to court the next morning, but he eventually paid a 40,000 Thai Baht fine instead.
Thailand has outlawed all e-cigarettes since 2014. The ban covers refillable pod kits, disposable vapes, e-liquids, heated tobacco products and accessories, with no exemption for tourists or personal use.
Authorities can impose fines of up to 30,000 Thai Baht and prison sentences of up to one year for possession or use. Selling or dealing in vaping products carries penalties of up to 600,000 Thai Baht and prison terms of up to three years.
Importing vaping products into Thailand can result in fines worth up to four times the value of the goods in addition to a 30,000 Thai Baht penalty. Offenders could also face prison sentences of up to 10 years.
The Daily Mirror reported that the warning comes as increasing numbers of British tourists prepare for summer holidays abroad. Thai authorities have repeatedly enforced vaping laws against both residents and visitors, with confiscation, fines and arrests possible even for first-time offenders.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 13 May 2026