The Thai government has recently toughened its stance on vapers and e-cigarette-related products. Two months earlier, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had ordered an intensified crackdown on e-cigarettes. Since the launch of this campaign, sales and the number of e-cigarette users have fallen by more than 80 percent. Despite this significant decline, authorities are keen to go even further.

Thai government tightens crackdown on e-cigarettes

On April 24, 2025, Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksa-anurak announced that the crackdown now also targets vapers, in addition to smugglers and distributors. According to him, ” E-cigarette smokers can be prosecuted for receiving contraband Under the law on contraband goods, importers face up to 10 years in prison or fines five times the product’s value. Sellers can be sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of 60,000 baht (about €1,575). Users, meanwhile, face up to five years in prison or a fine four times the product’s value.

However, it was not specified whether this penalty is added to that incurred for simple possession of an electronic cigarette, which could theoretically lead to a cumulative sentence of ten years in prison for vaping.

The government has also launched a public outreach program through the Thang Rath mobile app, allowing the public to report illegal e-cigarette activity and pocket up to 60 % from the resulting fines, Pattaya News reported. This means that if someone is caught vaping in public and is fined 5,000 baht (€131), the person who reported the offense is eligible to receive a reward of 3,000 baht (€78). Law enforcement officials are also eligible for these financial incentives.

” Public support is essential ” said Mr. Anukul. Together, we can clean the air for the next generation. “.

The health and economic issues surrounding vaping

Although e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand, they continue to be sold openly, including near schools. This accessibility contributes to the rise in vaping among young people. According to Mr. Anukul, vaping rates among 15- to 29-year-olds increased from 5.8% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2024. Recent cases of adolescent hospitalizations for lung injuries have rekindled the debate.

Ramathibodi Hospital revealed in a study that vaping-related illnesses cost around 306 million baht (around 8 million euros) in medical care in 2024.

However, some experts point out that the health problems may not be caused solely by e-cigarettes themselves, but by their misuse. Indeed, many young Thais are reportedly vaping cannabis oil, a particularly dangerous substance. This oil can remain in the lungs and trigger serious, even fatal, inflammatory reactions.

Thailand has adopted one of the most restrictive legal frameworks in the world regarding vaping. However, the WHO and Thai public health authorities are calling for continued vigilance and better enforcement, noting that tobacco and nicotine companies are using ever-evolving digital strategies to circumvent protective bans. This includes algorithm-based advertising and private messaging apps, which can reach young people in particular. This reality recently led Thailand to block more than 9,500 URLs related to the online sale of e-cigarettes.

Source:  Generation Without Tobacco