Thailand Cracks Down on E-Cigarette Sales with Fines

[webfact]

 

In a drive to reduce the sales of e-cigarettes among young people, Thailand's Customs Department has introduced hefty fines for importers. They are now required to pay a fine equivalent to twice the product's cost, alongside customs tax and VAT.

 

The department's spokesperson, Panthong Loykulnan, announced the penalties yesterday. They apply to imports of e-cigarettes, barakus, shishas, and e-barakus. Any confiscated items will be treated similarly to other restricted goods like cigarettes, liquor, and copyright-infringing goods.

 

This initiative comes after two e-cigarette-related incidents were reported in Sisaket and Rayong. In Sisaket, a raid on a city municipality shop called Monkey Tattoo led to the seizure of e-cigarette paraphernalia and cash. Two employees were arrested and fined roughly 2 million baht (US$54,000), equivalent to quadruple the price of the confiscated items.

 

In Rayong, another two suspects were apprehended for allegedly selling e-cigarettes and e-barakus in their shops. Their equipment and a list of orders were seized by local police.

 

In light of these events, the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) has called for a collective effort to protect Thai youth from the health risks of e-cigarettes. CPPD chief, Police Major General Wittaya Sriprasert, highlighted the importance of educating young people about the associated health hazards.

 

Picture courtesy of Freepik

 

-- 2024-05-06

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[ikke1959]

Is that also for the teachers, government officials, soldiers and other people in the army and police officers? As we see several people are vaping too. Secretly but   doing it...and no wonder s on markets there are stalls where you can buy the things you need...Enforcement is a problem, but starting with fines is a bit wrong... First start with all vendors  and shops than to the users

[Phat Dawg]

Ridiculous. Real cigarettes should be outlawed too. They are at least as bad, if not worse for the lungs and various other parts of the body. It comes down to competing financial interests though.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In a drive to reduce the sales of e-cigarettes among young people, Thailand's Customs Department has introduced hefty fines for importers. They are now required to pay a fine equivalent to twice the product's cost, alongside customs tax and VAT.

And what happens to the confiscated goods... sold on by customs for a little extra income.

Every item that is sold on the street has come through a border somewhere and not all porous ones.

[thailand49]

Lot of continue idol talk, illegal?

They brag about a bust but daily spotted situation they do nothing. 

Go into any popular Thai restaurant or club.

[Aussie999]

Wait  hasn't this happened, and failed, before... failure after failure.

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Is that also for the teachers, government officials, soldiers and other people in the army and police officers? As we see several people are vaping too. Secretly but   doing it...and no wonder s on markets there are stalls where you can buy the things you need...Enforcement is a problem, but starting with fines is a bit wrong... First start with all vendors  and shops than to the users

No, if you can't buy without a fine it wouldn't make any sense to offer for sale🙏

[Ralf001]

These things are terrible, real men smoke real ciggies !

[Andre0720]

12 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

These things are terrible, real men smoke real ciggies !

These real men all started using this drug when they were stupid and had a bad judgment.

Well, in other words, when they were in their teens that is.

And now that their judgment got better, they cannot stop.

In other words, they got themselves addicted to one of the most addictive drug in the world.

 

It is known now that if a manufacturer would like NOW to introduce a new product in the market, named tobacco, they would be prevented from doing it.

 

Vaping is now using in some places the free pass that tobacco manufacturers have enjoyed for decades...

[Ralf001]

5 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

These real men all started using this drug when they were stupid and had a bad judgment.

Well, in other words, when they were in their teens that is.

And now that their judgment got better, they cannot stop.

In other words, they got themselves addicted to one of the most addictive drug in the world.

 

It is known now that if a manufacturer would like NOW to introduce a new product in the market, named tobacco, they would be prevented from doing it.

 

Vaping is now using in some places the free pass that tobacco manufacturers have enjoyed for decades...

 

 

Hahahahaha

[Davedub]

I wonder which associated health hazards they are talking about? When my mother was diagnosed with Emphysema in the UK some 15 years ago her doctor advised her to switch to vaping. She's been vaping with damaged lungs for 15 years now with no averse affects.

 

The NHS in the UK proclaimed vaping some 95% safer than smoking a long time ago.

 

I guess the Thai authorites know something the UK healthcare experts do not...

[freeworld]

Also fine all the users who are smoking these things in public and exhaling their cloudy breath into the atmosphere oblivious to the impact they have on other pedestrians around them.

Edited May 6 by freeworld

[Xonax]

Why not ban real cigarettes with tobacco as well? They are without doubt killing and making more people sick, than if all smokers switched to vaping.

We all know that problem is, that there is no monopoly that controls e-cigarettes. At least vape smells better than tobacco smoke and people don't throw the cigarette butts everywhere, or in smelly ashtrays. 

Edited May 6 by Xonax

[Humpy]

I saw them clearly onsale by evening street vendors on Pattaya 2nd Rd infront of McDonalds opposite 'O' Ring Massage & Spa near Soi 13. 

[mommysboy]

Obviously not for kids or other non smokers.

 

Nicotine vapes are relatively harmless though, unless other chemicals are introduced, usually THC.  

 

Ban them because they are undesirable, because nicotine is addictive, because most people simply don't like them, but stop exaggerating health risks, which are confined to rare reactions that apply to all products , especially when misused.

 

Great for hardened smokers - saves lives, and eases the burden on hospitals.

 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Wait  hasn't this happened, and failed, before... failure after failure.

Oooh........🤭

[WHansen]

But it is ok to carry and use Yaba pills. Strange country

[digger70]

Thailand Cracks Down on E-Cigarette Sales with Fines 

Haven't they got anything to do then worry about E cigs?

Go fight some real Crime and corruption when that's done then worry about E cigs.

[sezze]

E cigs , forbidden ... they are way too dangerous

cigs , lets make them pay taxes , then they are ok

cannabis , oh thats fine , lets just smoke it all ...