Thai parents and teachers jointly urge government to ban vaping devices

According to a new survey in Thailand, the majority of parents and teachers support government measures to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in response to the threat they pose. This decision aims to protect young people from the harms of e-cigarettes, including the risk of addiction to tobacco products due to their ingredients.

According to hfocus on September 13, the new survey in Thailand shows that an overwhelming majority of parents and teachers support government measures to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to protect children and adolescents from their dangers, as the ingredients in e-cigarettes can lead to addiction to tobacco products. 

Over 91% of respondents support government ban on e-cigarettes 

A survey conducted by the Thai Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center collected responses from 5,582 participants nationwide, including parents and teachers from primary, secondary, and high schools, to understand their views on e-cigarette policies. 

The results showed that 91.5% of participants expressed support for government measures to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to protect children and adolescents from their harms. Additionally, 80.7% of respondents believe that e-cigarettes are harmful to health, including various carcinogenic substances, while 80.2% think that e-cigarettes may lead children and adolescents to start smoking. 

The survey also indicated that the vast majority of respondents believe that allowing the sale of e-cigarettes is not worth it, as the tax revenue from e-cigarettes is insufficient to offset potential health costs. Specifically, 88.4% of respondents believe that these health costs are not worth it, while 85% think it will lead to more children and adolescents starting to use e-cigarettes. 

Parents and teachers jointly call for official action 

Thai parents and teachers are jointly calling on the government to take action to ban the import and sale of e-cigarettes and to actively enforce laws to protect the younger generation from their harms. They also emphasize the need to strengthen education on e-cigarettes to raise public awareness of their dangers, while stressing the need to enhance efforts against the illegal sale and distribution of e-cigarettes. 

Dr. Niwat Nakawet, chairman of the Thai Parents and Teachers Committee, stated:

“We reiterate our opposition to the introduction of e-cigarettes to Thai children and adolescents, as it affects their health, mental, and emotional state.” 

Dr. Wit Kasemsap, assistant professor and director of the Thai Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TTC), expressed the following positions:

1. The Minister of Public Health and officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, and the Office of Consumer Protection should prioritize maintaining the policy of banning the import and sale of e-cigarettes. 

2. Law enforcement agencies: The Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and provincial councils should seriously accelerate efforts to combat e-cigarettes, as they are widely sold illegally in stores and online. 

3. Relevant agencies: Parents, guardians, and teachers from various fields of mass communication must remain vigilant against the predatory marketing of the e-cigarette industry targeting young children, especially regarding government policies intervening in the tobacco industry. 

4. Educational institutions: The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation must include a curriculum to teach about the dangers and marketing of e-cigarettes.