Call for higher tax, tougher law on smoking
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Health experts also push for the use of e-cigarettes to be controlled

Health experts have pressed for tougher laws to reduce the number of smokers, noting out that even "e-cigarettes" are harmful to health.

Thailand today marks World No Tobacco Day - while up to 12 million Thais remain smokers.

Smoking is blamed for extensive health problems including strokes, paralysis, heart failure and cancer.

Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, executive secretary of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation Thailand, yesterday recommended a higher tax on cigarettes because raising the price is an effective way to curb smoking.

Disease Control Department deputy director general Nopporn Chuenklin highlighted the need to control "electronic" cigarettes. As these are relatively new products, the Tobacco Control Act doesn't fully cover them, he said.

"This act was passed more than 20 years ago," Nopporn explained, adding that the department had prepared a new version of the act and would ask the National Council for Peace and Order to approve it.

"In this new version, the definition of cigarettes will also cover 'electronic' cigarettes," he said.

Dr Suthat Rungruanghiranya, a specialist in respiratory and critical care medicine at Srinakharinwirot University, said when compared with a common cigarette, an "electronic" or e-cigarette usually contained much higher nicotine.

"When you smoke one 'electronic' cigarette, you take in an amount of nicotine similar to that from six common cigarettes," he said.

Nicotine is an addictive agent that harms blood vessels. Diabetics who smoke have a greater risk of developing chronic wounds and amputation, while male smokers risks impotentence.

"An excessive intake of nicotine causes death," the specialist warned.

'Electronic' smokes carcinogenic

He said because e-cigarettes were rather new, it took time for researchers to determine their real effects.

"But by now, it is becoming clear that 'electronic' cigarettes are not good for people's health," Suthat said.

The American Cancer Society had reported that cells exposed to smoke from e-cigarettes turned carcinogenic.

"This means any claim that 'electronic' cigarettes will save smokers from cancers is untrue," he said.

Suthat also dismissed claims that e-cigarettes would ease the addiction.

"These claims are also false because 'electronic' cigarettes contain nicotine," he said.

Prakit said to lower the number of smokers, laws must get tougher and anti-smoking campaigns must continue.

-- The Nation 2014-05-31

Good, people who smoke just don't understand smoking kills them and others. Quit now before it's too late. I don't want to smell your damn smoke.

a higher tax on cigarettes because raising the price is an effective way to curb smoking.

Rubbish, people will still smoke as it is an addictive drug. A pack of cigarettes costs around $25 - $30 in Australia and they keep putting the tax up thinking people will stop smoking. Governments want people to smoke or they would criminalise it but it is a huge revenue raiser for them. Heroin is almost cheaper in Australia than cigarettes.

Tougher laws are one thing and enforcement something else completely.

Everything said about e-cigarettes is total rubbish.

Real cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals of which an average of 69 are classed as either extremely toxic or carcenogenic.

There are studies being done all over the world and the vast majority are reporting they are extremely better for you than real fags.

Only the ones funded by the pro cigarette lobbies are reporting negative results (well they would).

To say an e-cigarette contains 6 times the nicotine of a real cigarette is very misleading.... Nobody smokes an e-cigarette from start to finish like a real cig.... That e-cig will last the smoker for much more than a day.... not 10 minutes.

This will have something to do with the fact that a certain person in the health ministry holds the ONLY license to import and distribute nicotine replacement products such as patches and gum.... which are useless in comparison to e-cigs.... he is sensing his nice little monopoly is under threat.

Well it won't work... e-cigs are on the march worldwide and can't just be stopped.

In the UK from August last year to March this year, users of e-cigs increased by an alarming 450%, and the more people who smoke them, the faster new people are introduced to them.

Also, everyone I know who smokes them, reduce their nicotine strength on about a monthly basis in a weaning off strategy. eventually they will even quit the nicotine addiction and they are technically non-smokers.

Even in Germany, it was recently made legal to smoke e-cigs in bars and in the workplace. The big US tobacco firms are also getting in on the act as they realise that the argument for e-cigs way outweighs the arguments against them.

It is tin pot countries like this who will end up banning them for the sake of graft and corruption.

Well, I won't stop using them until I have finished my quitting strategy and I can't see controlling them will do anything to stop anyone else.

I switched to E cigarettes and my lungs couldn't be happier.

if people chose to smoke it is they choice.simple

Acoholic beverages kill way more than cigarettes let's ban them too.

Smoking bad, but throwing spoon fulls of MSG, (pung shoe wrote) in all the food is, no probplem.

No health risk there.... http://www.msgtruth.org/ .

Smoking ciggs in moderation is fine; smoking “pole” for money is much more of a health risk.

Idiots, They live in one of the most polluted countries due to industrial and vehicular emissions and they want to tax and restrict tobacco even more. Get your priorities right.

The truth of the matter is that you are the only one in charge of your own health.

Higher tax can't make nicotine addicts quit, only a new mind setting and attitude can do that.

The choice is always yours.

I was a smoker for 30 +++ years, I had a master degree in smoking addiction. LOL

I quit smoking by reading Allen Carr's book (best decision ever)

and have been nicotine free for the past 8 months (and counting).

I chain smoked while reading the book and at one point something "clicked" in my mind.

I understood how to change my mind setting and "think" like a non-smoker would!!!

I extinguished my last cigarette, threw away 4 new packs and never looked back.

Please read Allen Carr's "Easy way to stop smoking"

Search for the PDF version, save it and read it.

You'll thank me later

i gave up for 20 yrs and started again ,i blame it on stress at the time now i have to go through it all again its not easy

if people chose to smoke it is they choice.simple

Would be very nice if that was the case but its not that simple.

I choose not to smoke and not to have to breath cigarette smoke polluted air but no matter how hard I try to keep away from smokers at times they give me no choice.

Those who chose to smoke will do it anywhere regardless of who is around them with no consideration for others.

But it is my right to smoke they squeal and traffic pollution is much worse blaa, blaa, blaa

How would they know they cant smell themselves, smokers have no idea how bad they smell whether smoking at the time or not, its on their clothes, their hair, their skin.

Had friends who were heavy smokers (he's dead now, smoking related) she would smoke while doing the washing, ironing, their kids stank when they went to school but she didn't know, couldn't smell it. The 3 kids grew have grown up as heavy smokers, addicted by their parents smoke.

Do you want to do that to your kids ?

Hay don't you smokers feel silly having to go outside or into a little room somewhere to do your drug ?

Or do you think its stupid restriction, just picking on you, infringing on your rights to pollute the air of everyone around you ?

Tougher laws are one thing and enforcement something else completely.

The tax on cigarettes is only pre-paying the long and costly treatment for the different cancers.

Please don't give me any B.S. about 'not proven. All my former smoker colleagues in Oz died on the job with various cancers before I retired. Too much of a coincidence.

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I switched to E cigarettes and my lungs couldn't be happier.

They'd be happier if you didn't smoke at all...lol

Good, people who smoke just don't understand smoking kills them and others. Quit now before it's too late. I don't want to smell your damn smoke.

people who smoke dont understand it kills them... no of course they dont...you moan about anything what a grim existence..but alcahol...is fine yes..or you hate the smell of that too..please tell me your single khun bob..

if people chose to smoke it is they choice.simple

As long as they don't do it around me.

Good, people who smoke just don't understand smoking kills them and others. Quit now before it's too late. I don't want to smell your damn smoke.

People who endlessly whine and interfere in other peoples life's should get one of their own.

I do not want to hear your whining, mind your own business

I hear there is going to be a mandatory use of a plastic bag...which fits over the smokers head...and does not allow the smoke to get into the breathing spaces of others...it is still in testing as all participants...thus far...have succumbed to their own smoke and died...

a higher tax on cigarettes because raising the price is an effective way to curb smoking.

Rubbish, people will still smoke as it is an addictive drug. A pack of cigarettes costs around $25 - $30 in Australia and they keep putting the tax up thinking people will stop smoking. Governments want people to smoke or they would criminalise it but it is a huge revenue raiser for them. Heroin is almost cheaper in Australia than cigarettes.

I have to disagree with you here, the massive amount of tax that the Aus government puts on cigs is making a difference. Smoking numbers are at an all time low, around 20% now and they continue to fall. Surprisingly the only growth market is 18 - 30 yr old females.

Enforced restrictions on where a person can smoke, 12.5% tax increases every year, plain packaging and the social stigma works.

I smoked for 20+ years and still miss it every day but refuse to pay $21 a pack. If Thailand follows suit it will slowly work.

24 lines of text in the body of the article. 21 of them aboutt e-cigs.

As the business is booming, somebody is getting jealous they are missing the new gravy train.

Sayed it before and say it again , "ban all moralists"

Lighting my cigar right now and enjoy it , its vanilla taste , smells great .

Get stuffed moralists

The usual old stuff from both sides. The health nazis wanting to fix everyone's life for them. The smokers who want to continue their habit (moi). People who complain about having to smell cigarette smoke probably live in alpine meadows with the perfume of wildflowers in the air. Diesel and other fumes don't seem to worry them, just fag smoke. Life can be tough.

Thailand already has basically a world class anti smoking legislation.

Kuiburi,maybe you don't realize it but you are also a moralist,so please do as you said.

Maybe the new government can do something about the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants,enforcing it!!

If i am somewhere and ordered food and some moralist around me decides it is his right to light up i cancel my order and walk out.

I have asked restaurant owners why they let people smoke and the say they do not want to chase away customers.

Kuiburi,maybe you don't realize it but you are also a moralist,so please do as you said.

Maybe the new government can do something about the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants,enforcing it!!

If i am somewhere and ordered food and some moralist around me decides it is his right to light up i cancel my order and walk out.

I have asked restaurant owners why they let people smoke and the say they do not want to chase away customers.

I not smoke in bars or restaurants , I know that many people not enjoy cigarsmoke and I respect them by not smoking in there space .

Hope u respect me to for not smoking near u .

Kuiburi,Thank you for being a considerate smoker.Enjoy your sigar!

if people chose to smoke it is they choice.simple

Yes, as long as they don't force it on anyone else.

cigarrettes and alchol should be completely prohibited like any other drug.

Acoholic beverages kill way more than cigarettes let's ban them too.

I am a non drinker, but I can't see anything wrong with drinking in moderation, ie. don't drink every day, never get drunk, when you go into a bar, come back out in exactly the same way you were when you went in.