Thailand considers following the UK’s smoking cessation strategy by offering free e-cigarettes

According to foreign reports today, Thailand's End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) Group praised the UK's efforts to provide free e-cigarette kits and its focus on preventing minors from accessing e-cigarettes. This positive response comes after England recently announced a £45 million fund to distribute e-cigarette kits to reduce smoking rates.

The initiative also includes a budget of £3 million specifically for monitoring and combating the sale of e-cigarettes to underage buyers.

Meanwhile, in Thailand, the sale and use of e-cigarettes remain illegal, leading to an unregulated black market and increased opportunities for minors to use them. Therefore, the ECST group hopes the Thai government will reconsider and possibly legalize e-cigarettes in the upcoming 2023 elections.

ECST representatives Asa Saligupta and the Facebook page “What is E-cigarette?” with over 100,000 followers shared their thoughts on how UK regulations could benefit Thailand…

“E-cigarettes are legal in England, allowing its government to take measures and effectively enforce regulations to protect minors. The UK government will allocate £45 million to reduce the country's smoking rate, along with an additional £3 million to crack down on stores selling e-cigarettes to those under 18.”

The UK’s “Swap to Stop” program aims to distribute free e-cigarette kits to over 1 million smokers, encouraging them to quit traditional cigarettes in favor of less harmful alternatives. This initiative is part of the UK government's broader commitment to reduce England's smoking rate to below 5% by 2030. To support this campaign, a dedicated “illegal e-cigarette enforcement team” will combat illegal e-cigarette sales, with the authority to shut down stores found to be violating the law. As Asa explained, the UK's approach sharply contrasts with the current situation in Thailand…

“Thailand's ban claims to protect minors, yet the sale and use of e-cigarettes are open and commonplace. Children can easily access e-cigarettes through online channels without any regulation or checks.”

Another ECST representative, Maris Karanyawat, suggested that following the UK's example might be a way to address Thailand's current e-cigarette policy issues… “A committee studying factors affecting the health system and overseeing the enforcement of public health laws released a report based on comprehensive research and opinions from all groups involved in the e-cigarette issue. The report recommends that Thailand lift the ban on e-cigarettes to allow for proper regulation under the 2017 Tobacco Products Control Act.”

Many supporters of e-cigarette legalization hope that Thailand's new government will adopt a more consistent approach after the 2023 elections, aligning with international practices and emerging scientific evidence. Theoretically, this would help reduce the negative impacts on smokers and protect minors from e-cigarette products.

In preparation for the upcoming World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of the Parties to be held in Panama in November, Maris stated, “We hope that the Thai representatives will consider the public health committee's report, which suggests developing methods to reduce tobacco harm based on new scientific evidence, indicating that the regulation of e-cigarettes should differ from that of combustible cigarettes due to their different harmful effects.”

The overall goal is to reduce the exposure of Thailand's 9.9 million smokers to toxic chemicals and promote healthier alternatives.