Report Thailand Cracks Down on E-Cigarette Smokers Amid Health Concerns

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

The Thai government is intensifying its crackdown on e-cigarettes, focusing not just on smugglers and distributors but also on users. Officials have warned that e-cigarette smokers could now face charges for receiving smuggled goods, a stern measure aiming to discourage the rising trend of vaping, particularly among the youth.

 

Deputy government spokesman, Anukul Prueksa-anurak, outlined the new enforcement strategy on Thursday, highlighting that smokers can be prosecuted under the Customs Act. This offence carries significant penalties, including a possible five-year jail term and fines up to four times the value of the smuggled goods plus any duty.

 

Despite e-cigarettes being illegal in Thailand, their availability remains widespread, even in areas close to schools. This accessibility has contributed to a concerning increase in vaping among young people, which has been thrust into the spotlight following recent teen hospitalisations with vaping-related lung damage.

 

Research from Ramathibodi Hospital has underscored the severity of the issue, revealing that treatment for vaping-related illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, heart attack, and asthma cost the hospital approximately 306 million baht last year.

 

 

 

Prueksa-anurak also pointed out the growing prevalence of vaping, noting a sharp increase in users aged 15-29 years, from 5.8% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2024.

 

In response to these alarming statistics, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered an intensified crackdown, especially targeting online sales channels. Anukul mentioned that since the crackdown's commencement, both sales and the number of e-cigarette users have seen a promising decline of over 80%.

 

As Thailand tackles this public health challenge, the government hopes that tougher enforcement will deter the use of illegal e-cigarettes and ultimately safeguard the health of its younger population.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-04-24

 

 

 

[JoePai]

Stop using these vape things and use cigarettes      🤣

[ikke1959]

OK... agreed but do it also on cigarettes as they are even more dangerous for your health than vaping. And also give the same punishment/fines to the policemen, government officials, teachers, high ranked officials and army as for the common people and foreigners...As i have seen many vaping all over the country so there is a lot of work to do. But do it also for the cigarettes no exceptions

[Pouatchee]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

cost the hospital approximately 306 million baht last year.

 

cost the hospital, or the state? I doubt hospitals would be willing to lose a dime

[Chalong circle]

But allow cannabis an harmless substance, and tobacco !

[sammieuk1]

There is a ministry for a special kind of stupid here 🤔

[dinsdale]

Said this many times. It's nothing to do with health and everything to do with tax. BTW I'll guarantee tax revenue from tobacco has spiked since the vaping market has been shut down.

[Felton Jarvis]

E-cigarettes seem to have replaced cannabis as the police cash cow. They are committed to a permanent "crackdown" on whatever keeps them rolling in money.

[GanDoonToonPet]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Research from Ramathibodi Hospital has underscored the severity of the issue, revealing that treatment for vaping-related illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, heart attack, and asthma cost the hospital approximately 306 million baht last year

 

I wonder how much vaping-related car accidents cost them last year 🤔

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, Felton Jarvis said:

E-cigarettes seem to have replaced cannabis as the police cash cow. They are committed to a permanent "crackdown" on whatever keeps them rolling in money.

Have to disagree here. The money was coming in before the vaping market was shut down. This particular stream of brown envelopes for the BIB has disappeared.

[dinsdale]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Research from Ramathibodi Hospital has underscored the severity of the issue, revealing that treatment for vaping-related illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, heart attack, and asthma cost the hospital approximately 306 million baht last year.

How many of these are pollution and cigarette related. Actual evidence shows vaping reduces lung and heart issues when compared to tobacco smoking.. 

[Andre0720]

As long as tobacco cigarettes will remain legal, then this vaping issue is certainly not related to health concerns...

[actonion]

Yet another crackdown

[kingstonkid]

13 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

OK... agreed but do it also on cigarettes as they are even more dangerous for your health than vaping. And also give the same punishment/fines to the policemen, government officials, teachers, high ranked officials and army as for the common people and foreigners...As i have seen many vaping all over the country so there is a lot of work to do. But do it also for the cigarettes no exceptions

 

13 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

OK... agreed but do it also on cigarettes as they are even more dangerous for your health than vaping. And also give the same punishment/fines to the policemen, government officials, teachers, high ranked officials and army as for the common people and foreigners...As i have seen many vaping all over the country so there is a lot of work to do. But do it also for the cigarettes no exceptions

The challenge with vapes is that people don't know what is in them.  Kids think it's cool.

 

The government's challenge is tourism if you close sales then you p!ss off tourists.

 

Better to control like they do cigarettes and have quality standards while selling at same location as cigarettes get the street stalls closed 

[newbee2022]

Hurrah Hurrah, finally it happens. 👍🙏❤️

[dinsdale]

Breaking News: Just been contacted buy a seller. Seems like the crackdown may be over.

 

[ChipButty]

They should ban them Vapes, and lock the bastards up who are selling them, You have not got a clue what is in them, Yes I have tried them they worse than smoking cigarettes, 

My wife and a couple of her friends tried to convince me that using vapes was a way to stop smoking, I gave them a try, they will kill you they gave me pains in my chest, 

[RonJr]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Said this many times. It's nothing to do with health and everything to do with tax. BTW I'll guarantee tax revenue from tobacco has spiked since the vaping market has been shut down.

i bet it has, for the first time in three years its actually difficult to locate them, all shops have closed for like 1-month usually they just close for a few days when the boys in black come to town for a crackdown. they they open back up and pay usual bribes however this time is a lil different 

[dinsdale]

Just now, ChipButty said:

They should ban them Vapes, and lock the bastards up who are selling them, You have not got a clue what is in them, Yes I have tried them they worse than smoking cigarettes, 

My wife and a couple of her friends tried to convince me that using vapes was a way to stop smoking, I gave them a try, they will kill you they gave me pains in my chest, 

Your opinion and not supported by the vast amounts of evidence that says cigs are worse than vapes. If you were getting pains in your chest you were more than likely puffing way too much. Vapes got me off the cigs. The crackdown got me back on them. 

[JonnyF]

They need to work this out. Legalize it and tax it same as most countries do.

 

Otherwise I can see a huge impact on the tourist industry when news gets out on social media of people being unable to vape during their well earned 2 weeks in the sun, or worse - locked up for doing so.  

[ChipButty]

15 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Your opinion and not supported by the vast amounts of evidence that says cigs are worse than vapes. If you were getting pains in your chest you were more than likely puffing way too much. Vapes got me off the cigs. The crackdown got me back on them. 

Vapes didnt stop me smoking, No need to worry I stopped smoking altogether 

[ChipButty]

E-cigarette users could also face charges of receiving smuggled goods..

[Baba Naba]

3 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Said this many times. It's nothing to do with health and everything to do with tax. BTW I'll guarantee tax revenue from tobacco has spiked since the vaping market has been shut down.

Anyone with critical thinking will know that it is Big Tobacco behind a this anti-Vaping BS!  If the Thai's were wise, they would legalize and tax vaping paraphernalia.  The wise also know that vaping is much less dangerous than smoking tobacco, which they are forcing these nicotine addicted "children" into doing. 🙄😡

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, Baba Naba said:

Anyone with critical thinking will know that it is Big Tobacco behind a this anti-Vaping BS!  If the Thai's were wise, they would legalize and tax vaping paraphernalia.  The wise also know that vaping is much less dangerous than smoking tobacco, which they are forcing these nicotine addicted "children" into doing. 🙄😡

Big Tobacco and the government are the same in this case. 

[wombat]

13 hours ago, Chalong circle said:

But allow cannabis an harmless substance, and tobacco !

never in the history of man has so much money been spent on a plant trying to find something wrong with it.
so far no luck.

[Marcous]

58 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Your opinion and not supported by the vast amounts of evidence that says cigs are worse than vapes. If you were getting pains in your chest you were more than likely puffing way too much. Vapes got me off the cigs. The crackdown got me back on them. 

Have you tried snus? Got to be better than starting up smoking again.

 

You do need to be careful of the nicotine levels though, as when people switch from vaping, they often underestimate the absorption levels.

[wombat]

7 minutes ago, Marcous said:

snus?

have you seen the mouth cancer stats from snus?

scary stuff

[Marcous]

17 minutes ago, wombat said:

have you seen the mouth cancer stats from snus?

scary stuff

Well, I actually leave it to soak in vegetable glycerin and use it in my vape. 

 

 

[Globalres]

Pls read this from the NHS.  I’m sick and tired of hearing how bad vaping is for you.  Yes, if you’ve never vaped/smoked, don’t start vaping.  But for those of us who have successfully quit smoking thanks to vapes, it’s been great.  It’s madness to forbid vaping but accept smoking. I just read the below today, on BBC News. As someone mentioned, tourists from countries where vaping is allowed, will certainly avoid Thailand.

 

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/vaping-myths-and-the-facts/

[Globalres]

Here’s another article on vaping.  So irritating reading false info re vaping, people actually believe what any so called journalist writes without checking the facts.

 

https://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2022/04/is-vaping-safe.html