Thailand Cracks Down on E-Cig Users: Up to 5 Years in Jail and Hefty Fines

Key points：

·Thailand e-cigarette consumers may be charged with "receiving smuggled goods": The Thai government has stated that e-cigarette users could face up to 5 years in prison and a fine four times the value of the products under the Customs Act.

·The crackdown has expanded to include e-cigarette consumers: enforcement actions have extended from smugglers and distributors to the users themselves, with a focus on targeting adolescents and online purchasing behavior.

·Thailand's crackdown on e-cigarettes shows significant results after two months: A strict enforcement action directed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has led to a decrease of over 80% in sales and usage of e-cigarettes within two months.

According to a spokesperson for the Thai government, stricter measures will be taken against e-cigarette users, and those caught vaping e-cigarettes may be charged with "receiving smuggled goods.

Deputy government spokesperson Anukul Prueksa-anurak stated on Thursday that the government has intensified its crackdown on e-cigarettes and related products, targeting not only smugglers and distributors, but also end users.

He said, "E-cigarette users can be prosecuted for receiving smuggled products."

According to Thailand's Customs Act, those found guilty of such crimes can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and/or fined an amount four times the value of the smuggled goods plus the appropriate taxes.

Although e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand, they are still openly sold in the market, and can even be easily purchased in areas near schools, leading to concerns about the increasing number of teenagers using e-cigarettes. Recently, several teenagers have been hospitalized for lung damage, reigniting public concern about this issue.

Anukul stated that a study conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital found that the medical expenses for treating illnesses related to e-cigarettes last year amounted to approximately 3.06 billion baht. These related illnesses include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, heart attacks, and asthma.

He also pointed out that the usage rate of e-cigarettes among the age group of 15 to 29 has increased from 5.8% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2024.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently ordered a crackdown on the sale of e-cigarettes, especially through online channels. Anukul stated that since the crackdown started two months ago, sales of e-cigarettes and the number of users have decreased by over 80%.