Cabinet endorses import ban on electric cigarettes

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet endorses import ban on electric cigarettes

BANGKOK: -- The cabinet today endorsed a regulation of the Commerce Ministry which will ban the import of hookah or water pipes and electric cigarettes into the country as the two products contain health-threatening ingredients such as heavy metals and other toxic substances.

Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krua-ngarm in charge of legal affairs explained that the Commerce Ministry’s regulation only meant to ban the import of hookah and electric cigarettes and did not prohibit any people from possessing the two products.

Government deputy spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that during the cabinet meeting today (Tuesday) Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha instructed agencies concerned to tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes to prevent them from selling alcoholic drinks to students under 18.

The prime minister also pointed out that there was already a law against selling liquor to under aged youths but the law was not strictly enforced.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cabinet-endorses-import-ban-electric-cigarettes/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-14

[Costas2008]

Sorry, but can't make the connection between electric cigarettes and selling of alcohol to under 18s.

But what I don't like also why only tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes.

Why only in front of schools and not the whole country?

Is this Thai thinking we are not supposed to query about?

[Chao Lao Beach]

Only in a country where the actually name of big tobacco is the "Tobacco Manlolopy"

[wangsuda]

I wonder when the PM will ban cigarettes (in addition to hookahs and e-cigs), which are demonstrably more deadly than personal vaporizers.

[Pib]

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly wins another one. Be sure to smoke only Thai made cigarettes...it could save your life.

[andygunther]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

[wangsuda]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

My guess is that there is too much money in the real ones. Plus personal vaporizers are cutting in to the tobacco monopoly's profits.

[h90]

Sorry, but can't make the connection between electric cigarettes and selling of alcohol to under 18s.

But what I don't like also why only tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes.

Why only in front of schools and not the whole country?

Is this Thai thinking we are not supposed to query about?

You are wrong in trying to find logic in it.

electric cigarettes are more healthy than normals and a way to stop...but small lobby=less money.

To ban young people from alc is making the problems bigger. We started to drink with 14 and it wasn't very amazing because we were allowed to do it. When it is forbidden it is very interesting for the young people.

So they should thing first....but no the cabinet is not much better than the Yingluck cabinet....not much thinking....

[fat ficker]

2 steps back 1 step forward, its almost like logic didn`t make it to the upper echelons of society, be here or in the west!!!!

[toonsai]

TIT, money first.

Just and only to protect the (Thailand) Tobacco Industry and the corrupted officials.

Besides this, enjoy life in Thailand. Be happy, life in beautiful

[WhamBam]

My vapouriser is in my bag ready for my flight tomorrow.

Not illegal to own one, but illegal to import one? Crazy standard.

Am I worried? No. I doubt I will get stopped by customs as I enter Thailand, but you never know.

I have enough e-liquid for my needs too for whilst I am in Thailand.

Vaping is better than smoking but TiT, sadly.

[Commerce]

Let's hope the EU and America start banning the imports of Thai goods for similar reasons - based upon healh grounds, such as CP Food crap, and the hidden agenda of the traffic movement of peoples and workers behind its profits. Time to make a financial hit upon this arrogant, self-domiciled dump of a country that thinks it's untouchable. Hit hard.

I won't even miss my HP Sauce from Foodland if they hit hard from the West.

[Thai at Heart]

A country that on one side has a rabid anti smoking lobby followed with a ridiculous pro smoking law. Nuts

[Sviss Geez]

Sorry, but can't make the connection between electric cigarettes and selling of alcohol to under 18s.

But what I don't like also why only tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes.

Why only in front of schools and not the whole country?

Is this Thai thinking we are not supposed to query about?

There seems to be no end of things you "don't understand" or "can't make the connection" when it comes to perfectly understandable reports. The connection this time is that the OP is a report about a Cabinet meeting. A number of things were discussed and a couple of them were reported here.

The reason (also very obvious) that laws regarding alcohol sales are being properly enforced near to schools is because the authorities want to reduce the likelihood of alcohol being sold to school children.

[doctorproc156]

I thought the drinking age was 20? But now it's 18 according to the general?

[jaltsc]

"The cabinet today endorsed a regulation of the Commerce Ministry which will ban the import of hookah or water pipes and electric cigarettes..."

Yet they do nothing to enforce the NO SMOKING ban in public places. No one to my knowledge has ever been asked to stop smoking,let alone fined the 2000 baht. The cabinet endorses the death merchants who push the most dangerous drug in terms of deaths and severe lung and heart disease, as long as the powerful Thai tobacco monopoly continues to make obscene profits. I'm sure the members of the cabinet did this all on their own, with no "encouragement" from the tobacco industry.

"The prime minister also pointed out that there was already a law against selling liquor to under aged youths but the law was not strictly enforced."

Easy solution to this problem. Demand that the officials responsible for enforcing this law, or for that matter any law, do their jobs. Is that too difficult to understand?

[jaltsc]

Sorry, but can't make the connection between electric cigarettes and selling of alcohol to under 18s.

But what I don't like also why only tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes.

Why only in front of schools and not the whole country?

Is this Thai thinking we are not supposed to query about?

There seems to be no end of things you "don't understand" or "can't make the connection" when it comes to perfectly understandable reports. The connection this time is that the OP is a report about a Cabinet meeting. A number of things were discussed and a couple of them were reported here.

The reason (also very obvious) that laws regarding alcohol sales are being properly enforced near to schools is because the authorities want to reduce the likelihood of alcohol being sold to school children.

Admittedly, the average student is not the brightest in the world, and remember that 50% of the students are dumber than the average one. However, I doubt that any of them are that stupid that they can't figure out they can walk a few blocks to another convenience store and purchase alcohol. Why not just enforce the law. Period? No matter where the store is located.

[Tokay]

I wonder when the PM will ban cigarettes (in addition to hookahs and e-cigs), which are demonstrably more deadly than personal vaporizers.

Don't be silly. This ban was bought and paid for by the monopoly, as ecigs were cutting into their profits.

That said, will this ban be enforced? I'm 99.999% sure it won't. You can walk down Suk at night and see all sorts of banned items (dildos, porn, child porn, weapons, pepper spray, and so on) for sale right in everyone's face, including trafficked women from various countries.

Thailand has lots of bark, but no bite. Remember the booze ad ban that was to hit Chiang Mai and Phuket a few weeks ago? Yea, nothing ever came of it, and nothing ever will.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Tokay

[ChrisY1]

Just further evidence of propping up the tobacco people here in Thailand.........

Banning these things is just blatant protectionism

[IMA_FARANG]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

--------------

For real cigarettes there is a tax on them, which contributes tax revenue to the government.

No government in the world will quickly throw away tax money revenue.

As long as users are paying the taxes on cigarettes and Alcohol those items may be restricted but never banned.

"Health laws" mean little when MONEY is at stake.

Tax revenue is far more important than the countries citizen's health.

[wackybacky]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

My guess is that there is too much money in the real ones. Plus personal vaporizers are cutting in to the tobacco monopoly's profits.

It could also have something to do with the PTP ex-health minister being the only person who has been able to successfully obtain the ONLY licence for the import and distribution of nicotine replacement therapy products in the entire country.

E-cigs are a major threat to his little empire, and has obviously lined the right pockets to keep it safe.

Prayuth... You let me down.... Far from ridding Thailand of corruption... you and your outfit are probably the kingpin for the continuation of political corruption.

You put your snouts in the trough at the point of a gun.

Thailand will never change, that much is certain.

[wackybacky]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

--------------

For real cigarettes there is a tax on them, which contributes tax revenue to the government.

No government in the world will quickly throw away tax money revenue.

As long as users are paying the taxes on cigarettes and Alcohol those items may be restricted but never banned.

"Health laws" mean little when MONEY is at stake.

Tax revenue is far more important than the countries citizen's health.

Rubbish.

Most other countries in the civilised west allow them because they know the benefits and less burdon on healthcare from smokers.

The big tobacco firms in the US are already buying of the big e-liquid manufacturers, they are finding a way to dominate the e-cig market because they know it is the future and a much healthier alternative to tobacco.

Western governments are already looking at how to tax it.

Germany has even made it legal to smoke them in bars and even restaurants, and even in the workplace. In some places in the UK smoking restrictions are relaxed on e-cig smoking in public places. But trust Thailand to choose corruption over the way the west does things.

Personally. I already got my hands on 5 L of nicotine base and can make a life supply of e-juices and have 4 e-cigs already.

BTW.... you can't import them but it is OK to own them...... They will still flood in and its OK to own them.... no problem So just talking <deleted> as usual.

[kerrysum]

Sorry, but can't make the connection between electric cigarettes and selling of alcohol to under 18s.

But what I don't like also why only tighten up control of groceries and convenience stores in front of schools and other educational institutes.

Why only in front of schools and not the whole country?

Is this Thai thinking we are not supposed to query about?

I call it Thai logic, since many brands of cigarettes, from the world round are manufactured in Thailand, any questions?

[empireboy]

Don't want you breathing in the smoke from a hookah or an e-cig but you can keep breathing it in from your street-side BBQ vendor and all the Big Tobacco products that are well proven to cause illness and death...

[mommysboy]

That's funny, UK is arguing for more liberal rules championing them as a major health innovation that will prevent millions of smokers succumbing to an early death, a much safer alternative to smoking.

Heavy metals! well perhaps in cheap crap, but even then in small amounts.

Other toxic substances! not according to any UK report I have read.

Amazing Thailand! .........again.

[mikiea]

They ban the import of electronic cigarettes, and what about the real ones, they contains much more toxins?

My guess is that there is too much money in the real ones. Plus personal vaporizers are cutting in to the tobacco monopoly's profits.

[mikiea]

your guess is correct, e ciggs are a safe path to quit smoking that is being used by thousands every day. profits loss = we need new laws to protect thai people from themselfs :-)

[lvr181]

"The prime minister also pointed out that there was already a law against selling liquor to under aged youths but the law was not strictly enforced."

Easy solution to this problem. Demand that the officials responsible for enforcing this law, or for that matter any law, do their jobs. Is that too difficult to understand?

Yes, unfortunately!

[Suffinator]

Thai definition of progress = reversion

[ThaiSmarterThanYou]

Thai food also contains health threatening ingredients ! Ban it !