Report Thai Youth Hooked on Vapes: Rights Body Demands Crackdown

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has expressed concern about the rapid rise in e-cigarette usage among young individuals, advocating for more stringent regulatory measures. A letter addressed to the prime minister highlights an urgent need for action on vaping due to its rising popularity amongst children and teens.

 

A startling report shows that the number of e-cigarette users aged 15 and above has skyrocketed from 78,752 in 2021 to over 900,000 in 2024, with 25% of them exclusively using these devices. The role of online sales, enticing product designs, flavoured options, and youth-targeted marketing in this trend has drawn concerns.

 

Commissioner Wasan Paileeklee expressed concern about the hazards of nicotine, which can negatively affect brain development, focus, learning abilities, and behaviour, potentially resulting in depression or suicidal thoughts. Reports of e-cigarette-related lung issues, requiring severe medical intervention for some teens, have further alarmed the public.

 

The NHRC has also expressed unease over alleged connections between some appointed parliamentary advisers and the tobacco industry. This, they claim, could breach international commitments like the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), intended to shield health policies from such influences, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

People believe that Iceland's unclear e-cigarette laws undermine its commitments under important international treaties. The commission's recommendations to the prime minister include boosting public awareness, revising existing tobacco laws to cover e-cigarettes, enhancing legal enforcement, and ensuring independent policymaking free from tobacco industry manipulation.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-23

 

[SingAPorn]

Authorities would still need to explain why they are openly sold by street vendors all over Bangkok around Nana BTS or in other beach towns. 

[connda]

Outlaw tobacco. But the parliamentarians can't do that, can they? Outlawing vaping thins the competition that the tobacco monopolies enjoy and cuts into the revenues and profits of those tobacco monopolies. 

 "It's to SAVE THE CHILDREN!"

 Bravo Sierra and bovine excrement.  🐂💩  It's to protect monopolies.  

 "No no no -  Outlaw vaping to SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!"

 Then freaking outlaw tobacco and all tobacco products as nicotine is highly addictive and tobacco products kills those who use them.

 "Cigarettes are legal!!!  THE LAW says they are good for you!!!"

✋Cigarettes contribute to the deaths of over 8 million people annually, and that's probably a low-ball statistic.  
OUTLAW TOBACCO AND ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS!!!  SAVE THE CHILDREN AND ALL OF THE REST OF THE NICOTINE ADDICTS!!!

• WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm
• NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10453366/
• Pan American Health Organization: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/tobacco

 

Plus tobacco stinks as bad as 🐂💩  And ever see a cigar floating in a pool  

About the same...

 

[Pouatchee]

Never fear taksin's here!

 

Now that he is innocent heads will roll

[Sigmund]

Tobacco mafia even has western parliaments and mainly EU parliaments on it's payroll. 

 

So what can one even dream for Thailand ? 

[GanDoonToonPet]

Was the reporter high when he wrote this? It makes absolutely no sense.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The role of online sales, enticing product designs, flavoured options, and youth-targeted marketing in this trend has drawn concerns.

 

What online sales? What youth-targeted marketing? There is no marketing because sales are banned.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has expressed concern about the rapid rise in e-cigarette usage among young individuals, advocating for more stringent regulatory measures

 

Why are the NHRC getting involved? How is e-cigarette use a human rights issue? 🤔

 

How can there be more stringent measures? Thailand has some of the most draconian laws on e-cigarettes in the world. Life in prison for possession? 🤔

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

People believe that Iceland's unclear e-cigarette laws undermine its commitments under important international treaties.

 

Couldn't even get the right country in this paragraph. 😂

 

The laws are not unclear. They are very clear. Import, export, sales and possession are illegal and there is a 'war on vapes'.