WVS NEWS: Thailand’s blitz on illicit vapes renews calls for regulation over outright bans
Concerns that vaping is widespread among school-age children have spurred a high-profile blitz by authorities over recent weeks. Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has taken a personal interest in the crackdown, saying she wants to eliminate the illicit industry within the coming month.
Between February and April, Thai authorities launched legal proceedings in 2,336 e-cigarette-related cases. So far, 1.6m vaping items – from vapes to flavoured e-cigarette liquid – have been seized, worth a total of nearly $9m, said the government.
Meanwhile, an app has been set up to encourage Thais to report illegal e-cigarette sales on Thailand’s streets or online. The government will launch the “Kick-Off Gen Z Say No to E-Cigarettes” campaign later this month (25th to 26th April) with a nationwide in-school awareness campaign and is introducing heavier fines and even jail terms for sellers and vapers.
Black market fears
But the crackdown has also opened debate on the purpose and likely success of an outright ban. Critics say a full ban is counterproductive, as vapes are so widely used – including among people trying to give up smoking cigarettes.
“Banning e-cigarettes doesn’t really work,” said Ekkapob Pianpises, former lawmaker and a spokesman for the Committee on Public Health in Thailand’s House of Representatives.
Lawmakers have rejected a clear, enforceable legalisation plan for vapes, fuelling fears that a tougher ban will stir black market demand in a country where vapes are openly for sale in tourist areas but not regulated or licensed for quality.
Call for protective legal controls
No matter how “intensive” the crackdown is, authorities will “not be able to get rid of e-cigarettes”, he said, adding regulation rather than bans is the way forward.
“E-cigarettes should be controlled like cigarettes, where sales channels and the smoking age are also controlled,” he told ECigIntelligence.
Clear law would protect Thai youths by introducing age restrictions on sales and potential bans on flavoured or scented vapes that are popular with younger people, and limiting the illicit income from the black market trade – including “illegal business issues and corruption by public officials related to the import, production, and sale of electronic cigarettes.”
In 2021, the number of vapers across the country was around 80,800, the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction reported. This corresponds to a vaping prevalence of 0.14% among adults – 0.02% among females and 0.26% among males. However, the country maintains a restrictive stance on e-cigarettes and vaping products, prohibiting the sale, production and import of these products for both personal use and trade.
Tax and business opportunities
There is also a business case, vape regulation advocates say, with the potential for increased tax revenue, but also the production of liquids and vapes for domestic sale and export. But the current crackdown at street level appears to be having an impact, as it bites into a sector that has operated in the open for several years.
To highlight the highly polarised environment, there is no clear legal provision allowing authorities to fine individuals THB5,000 ($150) for using e-cigarettes. Instead, law enforcement is prioritising action against importers, sellers and those in possession of e-cigarettes, particularly in areas near educational institutions. The public can also submit information on sellers or users of e-cigarettes via a mobile application, with those whose information leads to the arrest of suspects standing to win 60% of the fine, while related government officials will also get incentives.
– Vijitra Duangdee ECigIntelligence contributing writer
