Here are the rules about vaping in Thailand

[webfact]

Woman vaping in Thailand

 

By Peter Roche

The Thai Government introduced a ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas in 2014, for “health reasons and to discourage young people from starting to smoke”. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is reminding visitors to the country about this ban, which is part of the Tobacco Control Law, and the law prohibiting smoking in public areas.

 

The relative merits of vaping are not the topic of this article, merely a reminder from the TAT about the current laws.

 

Travellers to Thailand are advised not to bring any electronic cigarettes, shishas  or any items associated with e-cigarettes, such as the ‘juice’ and scented oils used in these devices. Travel agents and tour operators should also inform their clients of the ban on these products.

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is working closely with tour companies and guides to encourage tourists not to smoke in prohibited areas, including airports, sports complexes, and tourist attractions.

 

The recent reminder from the TAT follows the high profile extortion scandal after a Taiwanese tourist (and popular Instagrammer in Taiwan) was extorted by Bangkok police at a checkpoint for 27,000 baht. The woman had a vaping device on her at the time. The ‘shake down’ and another involving a leading Pattaya policeman last weekend, has forced the TAT to remind visitors about the serious consequences in Thai law for people using vapers in the Kingdom.

 

Whilst the sale of these items seems quite open in Thai street stalls, some shops and markets, tourists may get a false sense of security about the lack of enforcement of the country’s vaping laws.

 

The TAT remind people that outdoor places, where smoking is prohibited include public parks, zoos, amusement parks, children’s playgrounds and markets, as well as sports and exercise facilities and sporting events. Tourists who are part of guided tour groups are also expected to follow these rules.

 

The ban on smoking on Thai beaches across the country, which came into effect in November 2017, is also part of Thailand’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism. Six Thai airports—Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai—operated by the Airports of Thailand (AOT), were declared no-smoking zones in 2019, and all smoking rooms inside the terminals have since been closed.

 

The Ministry of Public Health has also listed ‘public areas of airports’ as one of several zones where smoking is prohibited and carries a fine of up to 5,000 Baht per violation.

 

Tourists and travellers passing through the six airports managed by AOT can find designated smoking areas outside the terminals. They can get more information by calling the AOT Contact Centre at 1722 or visiting the airport information counter.

 

Travellers to Thailand should should get up to speed with the ban on electronic cigarettes, shishas and associated items, as well as the law prohibiting smoking in public areas. That includes smoking cannabis products in public as well.

 

“The Thai Government is committed to promoting a smoke-free environment and maintaining a safe, clean and healthy atmosphere for all.”

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/here-are-the-rules-about-vaping-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-03

 

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[ukrules]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

forced the TAT to remind visitors about the serious consequences in Thai law for people using vapers in the Kingdom

Indeed, if you are caught vaping or with a vape device as a foreigner then you will be extorted for tens of thousands of Baht.

 

Interesting.

 

[nikmar]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“The Thai Government is committed to promoting a smoke-free environment and maintaining a safe, clean and healthy atmosphere for all.”

Bull####. the air in Bangkok this time of year, every year is toxic!! the government do nothing.

[Tarteso]

Hypocrisy served on a platter.

These guys don’t learn.

[Expat68]

They will never catch me vaping. To be perfectly honest I do not understand why people do but hey ho each to their own

[ikke1959]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Travellers to Thailand are advised not to bring any electronic cigarettes, shishas  or any items associated with e-cigarettes, such as the ‘juice’ and scented oils used in these devices

I think here in lies the problem... There is no clear statement it is not allowed.. You are advised not to bring.....not it is not allowed..Never clear statements, which makes things easy for corruption

 

Whilst the sale of these items seems quite open in Thai street stalls, some shops and markets, tourists may get a false sense of security about the lack of enforcement of the country’s vaping laws.

 

It is indeed a lack of enforcement of laws, and not only about smoking/vaping but many others too.. RTP is too lazy

 

[Homburg]

I wish that the Thai Government was as committed to road safety as they claim to be committed to "maintaining a safe, clean and healthy atmosphere for all".

[happysoul]

Quote

“The Thai Government is committed to promoting a smoke-free environment and maintaining a safe, clean and healthy atmosphere for all.”

 

Don't smoke, don't vape, just enjoy the good fresh Thai air ! 555555555555

[PMinThailand]

Wrong heading: The Thai Government introduced a ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas in 2014, for “health reasons and to discourage young people from starting to smoke”

Correct heading: The Thai Government introduced a ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas in 2014, to provide new opportunities for the corrupt police to collect money from foreigners.

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The ‘shake down’ and another involving a leading Pattaya policeman last weekend, has forced the TAT to remind visitors about the serious consequences in Thai law for people using vapers in the Kingdom.

This cracked me up. The BiB screws up and the TAT has to do the work...

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I think here in lies the problem... There is no clear statement it is not allowed.. You are advised not to bring.....not it is not allowed..Never clear statements, which makes things easy for corruption

 

Whilst the sale of these items seems quite open in Thai street stalls, some shops and markets, tourists may get a false sense of security about the lack of enforcement of the country’s vaping laws.

 

It is indeed a lack of enforcement of laws, and not only about smoking/vaping but many others too.. RTP is too lazy

 

Just imagine what Nana would look like if they enforced all the rules about vaping sex toys and prostitution.  Wow would it be quiet.

[Reigntax]

3 hours ago, Expat68 said:

They will never catch me vaping. To be perfectly honest I do not understand why people do but hey ho each to their own

You must hide it very well!

[Reigntax]

35 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Just imagine what Nana would look like if they enforced all the rules about vaping sex toys and prostitution.  Wow would it be quiet.

Then It would be called Nono

[Reigntax]

2 hours ago, Homburg said:

I wish that the Thai Government was as committed to road safety as they claim to be committed to "maintaining a safe, clean and healthy atmosphere for all".

You could argue their commitment is exactly the same. Non existent !

[ikke1959]

38 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Just imagine what Nana would look like if they enforced all the rules about vaping sex toys and prostitution.  Wow would it be quiet.

indeed.. maybe it shows that most rules are outdated or not necessary as nobody needs to follow them......

[huangnon]

Quote

Whilst the sale of these items seems quite open in Thai street stalls, some shops and markets, tourists may get a false sense of security about the lack of enforcement of the country’s vaping laws.

Yep, so easily available yet erm, illegal..

 

Another manufactured "grey area" for the clowns in brown to create revenue streams.

[IamNoone88]

I wonder when the police will start enforcing the shisha laws on beach clubs and bars openly providing these services to tourists? Rhetorical question.

[dallen52]

1 hour ago, kingstonkid said:

Just imagine what Nana would look like if they enforced all the rules about vaping sex toys and prostitution.  Wow would it be quiet.

And all the counterfeit supplements like Viagra Cialis Black Ant.

ALL Are knock off's. 

Banned in many countries for undeclared contents.

Look alike.

 

But again, nothing is done.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

4 hours ago, Expat68 said:

To be perfectly honest I do not understand why people do but hey ho each to their own

Because people are stupid and think vaping is like sucking on candy. It's not- it's exactly like smoking and sometimes even worse. The high-end devices and vape juice (eww) may be slightly less harmful than cigarette smoke, but the cheap mass-market devices contain various substances that may actually be more harmful.

The biggest problem isn't people slowly killing themselves with smoking - IMHO let them do what they want in privacy and designated smoking areas - the problem is that vaping is being used as a substitute for cigarettes in designated non-smoking areas. A venue I often go to has a huge "no smoking" sign on the wall, and people will freely blow that **** in your face without a second thought.

Vapes need to be legalized, regulated (remove the mass-market ones with cancer-causing substances from the market), and treated like cigarettes by venues and users. That means NO SMOKING means NO SMOKING - vaping in no smoking areas needs to be banned and enforced. Also more effort needs to go into educating the public that vaping isn't harmless, and secondhand smoke from vaping isn't harmless and needs to be regarded as smoking.

[ignore it]

If the tourists abide by all the rules about vaping, smoking, sex, on and on and on,

It may end up that the RPT has nothing to do except serve and protect the people.

Nah, just joking.

[khunjeff]

3 hours ago, PMinThailand said:

Correct heading: The Thai Government introduced a ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas in 2014, to provide new opportunities for the corrupt police to collect money from foreigners.

It was more about the fact that they didn't have a regime in place to collect taxes on vape liquids and shisha tobacco. Rather than amending the relevant laws to address that, they just banned the whole lot. 

[mommysboy]

Actually, other countries are also moving to ban vaping- Taiwan and Brazil I believe. 

 

For whatever reason, it is maintained that vaping is harmful, sometimes even more harmful than cigarettes, and represents a significant public health risk to children.

 

Let me say that having looked at the evidence I believe the objective scientific evidence, together with real world observation shows it to be relatively harmless, even beneficial to smokers with chronic diseases such as COPD.

 

Nevertheless, grudgingly you have to accept that as a fundamental in one's life the law is the law.

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

Actually, other countries are also moving to ban vaping- Taiwan and Brazil I believe. 

 

30+ at the moment, not counting Taiwan as the third reading of the bill only passed on 13 January so not implemented as yet as far as I'm aware.

 

[Andyfez]

So......

What are the official rules about vaping???????

[Smee]

2 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Because people are stupid and think vaping is like sucking on candy. It's not- it's exactly like smoking and sometimes even worse. The high-end devices and vape juice (eww) may be slightly less harmful than cigarette smoke, but the cheap mass-market devices contain various substances that may actually be more harmful.

The biggest problem isn't people slowly killing themselves with smoking - IMHO let them do what they want in privacy and designated smoking areas - the problem is that vaping is being used as a substitute for cigarettes in designated non-smoking areas. A venue I often go to has a huge "no smoking" sign on the wall, and people will freely blow that **** in your face without a second thought.

Vapes need to be legalized, regulated (remove the mass-market ones with cancer-causing substances from the market), and treated like cigarettes by venues and users. That means NO SMOKING means NO SMOKING - vaping in no smoking areas needs to be banned and enforced. Also more effort needs to go into educating the public that vaping isn't harmless, and secondhand smoke from vaping isn't harmless and needs to be regarded as smoking.

 Not sure where you are getting your information, but vaping is far less harmful than smoking... 95 percent less harmful according to independent, highly qualified global researchers, such as Public Health England, which actually DID the research that proved it. Vaping is for adult smokers wanting to escape deadly combustible tobacco. Banning vaping serves no useful public health goals, denies adult citizens of their human right to health and simply entrenches deadly cigarettes in the market. Useful for TTM perhaps, but of no value at all to smokers and their families, or public health. It is common knowledge that around half of all Thai politicians vape, inluding our beloved PM...  one rule for them, another for the rest of us apparently... 

[Kalasin Jo]

Vaping devices openly for sale in Thailand......indeed they are. The small throw away assorted flavours ones being particularly popular with Thais. One wonders how they get imported or if not imported manufactured here given the law. A law designed I'm convinced to protect the Thai tobacco industry not the young and vulnerable nor the health of the public as is claimed. The law on smoking is Draconian enough and surely it would be easy enough to incorporate vaping in to it and get rid of the stand alone vaping law.

[Salerno]

19 minutes ago, Kalasin Jo said:

get rid of the stand alone vaping law

The problem is there's no such thing, they reinterpreted various legislation such as the Customs Act, Public Health Ministry Act and made announcements to declare vaping paraphernalia illegal. There is no law against vaping per se but good luck arguing your case (not "you" specifically obviously) and proving your equipment and juice was imported prior to 2014 and still worked.

[Leif Kullberg]

Since the ban came in place more and more Thais r waping - especially young ones. Easy to find equipment and cheep.

As with all other rules that's not followed in Thailand - everything from helmet while driving motorbike to sober driving, smoking in public, smoking on the beach and so much more - if police don't enforce the laws they become meaningless - and police do nor enforce !!

[Zapitapi]

4 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Because people are stupid and think vaping is like sucking on candy. It's not- it's exactly like smoking and sometimes even worse. The high-end devices and vape juice (eww) may be slightly less harmful than cigarette smoke, but the cheap mass-market devices contain various substances that may actually be more harmful.

The biggest problem isn't people slowly killing themselves with smoking - IMHO let them do what they want in privacy and designated smoking areas - the problem is that vaping is being used as a substitute for cigarettes in designated non-smoking areas. A venue I often go to has a huge "no smoking" sign on the wall, and people will freely blow that **** in your face without a second thought.

Vapes need to be legalized, regulated (remove the mass-market ones with cancer-causing substances from the market), and treated like cigarettes by venues and users. That means NO SMOKING means NO SMOKING - vaping in no smoking areas needs to be banned and enforced. Also more effort needs to go into educating the public that vaping isn't harmless, and secondhand smoke from vaping isn't harmless and needs to be regarded as smoking.

hmm.. this reads.. i dont like it.. i am an authority and know that its harmful..i read it in the newspaper:)..ban it ..baaaan it.. nope its not harmful..nicotine is good for ur health (multiple studies show it..latest one is a longterm harward study.... dont ask for a source.. educate yourself) the glycerine's used in the juice are neutral..doggy manufacturers are a possibility.. but hey where is ur chicken coming from? YOUR BEEF? YOUR VEGGIES? have a good one

[kingstonkid]

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

indeed.. maybe it shows that most rules are outdated or not necessary as nobody needs to follow them......

It's actually interesting. If the police have a reason to keep Suk clean they can do it.  Just had to be there for ASEAN summit.  Cops all over and all the stalls closedi have also noticed that the street bars are gone.