Thailand Explores E-Cigarette Legalization
According to The Nation, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) has formed a working group to study whether e-cigarettes can be legalized as an alternative for smokers. Asa Salikupt of the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) network said the gr
According to The Nation, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has established a working group to study the possibility of legalizing e-cigarettes as an alternative for smokers.
<\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
Asa Salikupt from the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) network expressed support for DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn's plan to legalize e-cigarettes, hoping the working group will remain transparent, listen to public opinions, and allow e-cigarette users to provide information.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
“We believe that the legalization of e-cigarettes will help Thailand achieve its goal of reducing the number of smokers and protecting non-smokers from the harms of secondhand smoke,” Salikupt said.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
Once e-cigarettes are legalized, the consumption tax department could impose taxes on e-cigarettes.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
Maris Karanyawat, also from ECST, stated that countries like the UK, New Zealand, and the Philippines are likely to promote the use of e-cigarettes to help reduce the consumption of harmful substances and assist those who cannot quit smoking.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
“More than 70 countries have already legalized e-cigarettes because they can reduce the number of smokers,” Karanawat added.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
According to Taopiphop Limjittarkorn, a Bangkok councilor from Move Forward, the government is losing tax revenue by banning e-cigarettes, and people are unable to access safer alternatives, while the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly is missing out on profit opportunities. <\/span><\/div>
