Thailand snuffs out 80% of e-cigarettes in teen vape clampdown
Vaping in Thailand has taken a sharp nosedive, with an eye-watering 80% drop in sales and usage in just two months, as the government lights a fire under its anti-e-cigarette campaign.
Deputy Government Spokesman Anukool Pruksanusak announced the dramatic plunge, crediting a no-nonsense crackdown ordered by the Prime Minister amid mounting concern over teen vaping.
“The number of young users has been rising fast. We had to act.”
Stats back up the panic, the percentage of users aged 15 to 29 has more than doubled, from 5.8% in 2019 to 12.2%, signalling a worrying shift in smoking habits among Thai youth.
Adding fuel to the fire are findings from Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University, which revealed that vape-related illnesses such as COPD, stroke, heart disease and asthma are now costing the public health system more than 306 million baht a year.
Police are coming down hard on the vape trade. Importers face up to 10 years in prison or fines five times the product’s value. Sellers could be hit with three years behind bars or a 60,000 baht penalty. Even users face up to five years in jail or fines four times the product’s value under smuggling laws.
Possession of untaxed or smuggled goods could also land users in hot water under customs regulations.
But the crackdown isn’t just about punishment, it’s paying off in more ways than one. The government has launched a whistleblower reward scheme via the Thang Rath mobile app, letting the public report illegal e-cigarette activity and pocket up to 60% of the resulting fines, Pattaya News reported.
That means if someone’s caught puffing in public and slapped with a 5,000 baht fine, the tipster could bag a tidy 3,000 baht reward. Even government officials helping with enforcement are being offered financial incentives.
“The public’s support is essential,” said Anukool. “Together, we can clear the air for the next generation.”
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