Singapore's Health Minister Responds to Queries on Legal Cigarettes and Banned E-cigarettes, Drawing Public Discontent

Key points:

·Minister's stance: Wang Yikang states that e-cigarette pods have extremely high nicotine content, with one pod equivalent to four packs of cigarettes, and are easy to use continuously throughout the day, posing a risk no lower than cigarettes. 

·Concern from youth: He emphasizes that e-cigarettes are more attractive to young people, and without e-cigarettes, many young people would not actively smoke cigarettes. 

·New regulations: Starting from September 1, 2025, Singapore will increase penalties for e-cigarettes and "Kpods," implementing heavy fines, imprisonment, and caning. 

·Public reaction: Wang Yikang's remarks have sparked a large amount of criticism, with netizens questioning the disregard for the dangers of cigarette combustion and suggesting that the government may be turning a blind eye to cigarette tax revenue. 

·International comparison: Some comments point out that the UK and New Zealand view e-cigarettes as harm reduction tools, while Singapore has chosen to completely ban them, lacking a scientific balance.

On September 2, 2025, the online citizen reported that Singapore's Health Minister, Ong Ye Kung, defended the ban on e-cigarettes, responding to public questions about why traditional cigarettes are legal while e-cigarettes are not. Ong Ye Kung stated that while some believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, this is not actually the case.

He explained that cigarettes are consumed one by one, and some smokers may stop after finishing one cigarette. However, an e-cigarette pod can be used for a whole day or longer, increasing the risk of continuous use. According to the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore, the amount of nicotine in one e-cigarette pod is equivalent to four packs of cigarettes. Wang Yikang pointed out that someone who continuously uses an e-cigarette for a whole day is essentially smoking four packs of cigarettes.

He added that in Singapore, the smoking rate among young people is low, but the introduction of e-cigarettes has led some young people to start smoking. He firmly believes that without e-cigarettes, young people would not smoke, as cigarettes are neither fashionable nor have a pleasant smell for them.

Starting from September 1, 2025, Singapore will impose stricter penalties on the use and supply of e-cigarettes and Kpods. Under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act, the use of nicotine and its analogues will be reclassified as Class C drugs. The new measures include caning for sellers, increased fines, and mandatory rehabilitation for underage offenders.

Online, Wang Yikang's comments have sparked widespread criticism, with over 700 responses on Reddit and CNA's Facebook pages combined. Many internet users are expressing dissatisfaction with the reasons for continuing to allow cigarette sales while banning e-cigarettes. Some have pointed out that Wang Yikang mentioned smokers would stop after one cigarette, questioning whether he is aware of the phenomenon of chain smoking.

Some users mocked, "It's better to use marijuana, because there is no nicotine." Another user expressed hope that the Health Minister could provide a more forceful explanation, such as emphasizing the need for cigarette manufacturers to clearly list the ingredients in their products, while e-cigarettes do not require this and are susceptible to the addition of illegal substances. Some people believe that the government may not ban cigarettes due to their significant tax revenue. In 2024, a report by Singapore Customs stated that they received 1.1 billion Singapore dollars (around 800 million USD) in tobacco tax.

Some netizens suggest that instead of banning e-cigarettes, it would be more effective to regulate them properly. "Banning e-cigarettes will lead to a surge in traditional cigarette use, including some former smokers going back to smoking," one person commented. "We should regulate e-cigarettes in the same way as traditional cigarettes.

A user criticized that while Wang Yikang's defense of the e-cigarette ban may sound reasonable politically, it appears shallow when viewed from a scientific perspective. Although e-cigarettes are appealing to young people and some pods contain high levels of nicotine, the user objected to Wang Yikang emphasizing the issue of nicotine while overlooking the fact that traditional cigarettes contain more harmful tar, carbon monoxide, and other combustion byproducts.

Some users have pointed out that this is why the UK and New Zealand classify e-cigarettes as less harmful alternatives. "Minister Wong has ignored existing research by equating nicotine content with overall harm," the comment continued, adding that Singapore's policy overlooks adult users who use e-cigarettes as harm reduction tools. "Public health policies should not only be reassuring but also reflect the complete evidence.