Sept. 18, 2019

It's official: since December 22, 2017, e-cigarette use is completely banned throughout Thailand. The Thailand Authority of Tourism (TAT) is clear—both Thai citizens and travelers will be arrested if they vape in the Kingdom of Siam. Here's what you need to know about this law, which should be taken very seriously indeed…

Penalties ranging up to imprisonment

Originally, the e-cigarette ban was implemented by the Thai government for public health reasons in 2014. According to a government spokesperson, e-cigarettes encourage young people and non-smokers to smoke. It is therefore to combat smoking that this law officially came into force two years ago.

The law stipulates that no e-cigarette-related items may be transported into Thai territory. If this is the case, anyone possessing such equipment or vaping in Thailand will be forced to pay a fine many times the value of the illegal products. In other cases, they may even face imprisonment… and the Thai police don't joke around! A French woman paid the price last winter, as explained in this article from L'Echo Touristique. And many tourists still fall foul of this rule through lack of awareness…

Traditional cigarettes under scrutiny too

Beyond its campaign against e-cigarettes, the Thai government has also cracked down on traditional cigarette smokers! Numerous regulations have come into effect. For instance, since November 1, 2017, it is forbidden to smoke on Thai beaches. While we understand the frustration of smokers, we can only encourage this initiative. In fact, it was after uncovering an average of 3 cigarette butts per square meter sampled across an area of Patong Beach in Phuket that the Ministry of Marine and Coastal Resources made this decision. This represented the equivalent of no fewer than 139,000 cigarette butts on a beach just 2.5 km long!

More recently, in early 2019, the government decided to ban smoking within a 5-meter radius of the entrances and exits of any public place. Similarly, six airports in Thailand were forced to close their smoking lounges…

As you can see, if you smoke, take every precaution during your trip to Thailand. It would be a shame to spoil your stay over a puff of vapor or nicotine, wouldn't it?

Florine Dergelet

Florine Dergelet

A web writer for over 10 years, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by a passion to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to understand. For her, travel isn't about ticking off countries on a map, but about weaving connections—often invisible but always powerful—with places, peoples, and all manner of creatures from the animal kingdom. Her philosophy? Advise travelers with integrity, raise their awareness of animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble, sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories are often born far from the spotlight, in the shadow of a winding path, in the midst of conversation, or in the quiet breath of a world we finally take the time to listen to…