Majority of Parents and Teachers Support Ban on E-cigarette

According to a report from hfocus on September 13th, a new survey in Thailand reveals that the majority of parents and teachers support the government's decision to implement a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes in order to address the threat they pose. This measure is aimed at protecting young people from the dangers of e-cigarettes, as the substances contained within them can potentially lead to tobacco addiction in children.

More than 91% of respondents support the government's ban on the sale of e-cigarettes.

The Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center in Thailand conducted a survey that gathered responses from 5,582 individuals across the country, including parents, primary and secondary school teachers, in order to understand their views on e-cigarette policies.

The results show that 91.5% of participants expressed support for the government taking measures to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in order to protect children and teenagers from the harms of e-cigarettes. Additionally, 80.7% of respondents believed that e-cigarettes are harmful to health, including the presence of various carcinogenic substances, while 80.2% of people believed that e-cigarettes may lead to children and teenagers starting to smoke.

A recent survey has revealed that the majority of respondents believe that allowing the sale of e-cigarettes is not worthwhile, as the tax revenue generated from these products is insufficient to cover the potential health costs associated with them. Specifically, 88.4% of participants deemed these health costs unwarranted, while 85% expressed concerns that it would lead to an increase in e-cigarette usage among children and teenagers.

Parents and teachers jointly urge authorities to take action.

Thai parents and teachers are joining forces to call on the government to take action in banning the importation and sale of e-cigarettes, while actively enforcing legislation to protect the younger generation from the dangers of e-cigarettes. They also emphasize the need to enhance education on e-cigarettes in order to raise public awareness of their risks, while underscoring the importance of cracking down on illegal sales and dissemination of e-cigarettes.

Dr. Niwat Nakawet, Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association of Thailand, stated, "We reiterate our opposition to introducing e-cigarettes among children and adolescents in Thailand, as it poses risks to their physical as well as mental and emotional well-being."

Dr. Wit Kasemsap, Deputy Director of the Thailand Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TTC), expressed the following stance, "The Minister of Public Health, along with the administration, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Consumer Protection Commission, emphasize the importance of maintaining the policy that bans the import and sale of e-cigarettes. Law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and the Provincial Political Consultative Conference Office, are urged to accelerate efforts to crack down on the widespread illegal sales of e-cigarettes in stores and online. Various stakeholders, including parents, guardians, and teachers in the field of mass communication, need to be vigilant against predatory marketing targeting young children in the e-cigarette industry, particularly in light of government policies intervening in the tobacco industry. Educational institutions, such as the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, must include a curriculum that teaches knowledge about the dangers and marketing of e-cigarettes."