Philosophical 11

Greetings!

I am currently living in the Philippines and I wish at some point to visit Thailand. However, the big stumbling block is that I am told E.cigs are banned in Thailand. Is this strictly enforced and are there ways around this apart from reverting to the dreaded weed. Is it punishable by death...jail ....or fine?

Many Thanks

nonthaburi

I wouldn't do it in public, but you'd be very unlucky to get stopped for it on the way in. Stick to your room and you're probably fine.

however:
https://blog-vape.com/en/2018/06/03/thailand-is-continuing-its-war-against-vaping/

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/local-laws-and-customs

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thailand-vape-ban-travellers-10-year-prison-e-cigarettes-use-bangkok-holidays-uk-a7893981.html

Philosophical 11

Thanks for taking the time and effort to respond nonthaburi. Most appreciated.

I understand the ban is to protect home produced cigarettes which to me is over protectionism. For health reasons, many people have switched to e-cigs and to ban them for whatever reason ignores the health issues of smoking tobacco. Because of this, I and my wife will never visit Thailand, but I wonder how many tourists have been dissuaded to visit because of this illogical ban. A case of cutting off the nose to spite the face perhaps?

Regards

nonthaburi

The only Thai made cigarette I can think of is Krong Thip, which are horrible, and likely to be a shortcut to an early grave. Then there are the packets of loose tobacco for hand rolling like Blackcat at 5 Baht a bag, or even worse the loose tobacco available in the market by the kilogram. Not sure how many of those smokers would be turning to e-cigs purely based on the cost.

what is more likely is that the government/junta want to protect their revenue in taxes collected from the sale of all cigarettes.

I doubt many potential tourists know about the ban, or really care about it seeing as how so many laws are widely broken anyway.

how about Cambodia instead? Very relaxed, and cheap as chips. Seeing how the use of marijuana seems to be compulsory almost everywhere, they're probably not too worried about an e-cig either! LOL

Thairetired2016

Some western tourists may decide to go elsewhere due to the smoking issue. However, why worry about a few westerners. We get plenty of Chinese tourists who spend way more than western tourists.

https://m.jpost.com/International/Beware-no-e-cigarettes-in-Thailand-540038

hughden

There have been reports of people stopped by the police for smoking ecigs. Probably not a problem sticking them in your luggage, but don't swagger down the street smoking one!
There is little justification for many of the laws here and it is best not to try and analyse it; it's not our country and they can do what they want. Smoking/carrying weed could get you into a load more trouble...