Government Declares E-Cigarettes Will Not Be Stopped, Warns Educators of Disciplinary Action

Bangkok: The government has reiterated its stance that "e-cigarettes will not be stopped," emphasizing that educational institutions and workplaces are designated as smoke-free and e-cigarette-free zones. Teachers and educational personnel found in violation of these regulations will face immediate disciplinary action. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Karom Polpornklang, Deputy Government Spokesperson, disclosed that Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra is deeply concerned about the rising use of e-cigarettes among youth and students. She has instructed relevant agencies to address this issue urgently, with a 30-day deadline to show tangible results. The Prime Minister is closely monitoring the action plan, which consists of three phases: urgent, short-term, and long-term. Mr. Karom announced that on March 10, 2025, the Ministry of Education released a ministerial announcement detailing measures to control e-cigarette proliferation. These measures aim to prevent access and usage in educational instituti ons and workplaces under the Ministry's jurisdiction. Key initiatives include raising awareness about the health risks and legal penalties associated with e-cigarettes, mandating clear signage to indicate smoke-free zones, and requiring supervisors to actively monitor and prevent involvement with e-cigarettes. The announcement aligns with the Ministry of Commerce's regulations prohibiting the import of e-cigarettes and aligns with public health mandates designating smoke-free areas. Mr. Karom reported that between February 26 and March 12, 2025, authorities arrested and prosecuted 1,078 cases related to e-cigarettes, involving 1,104 suspects and seizing 900,444 pieces of evidence valued at 118,953,915 baht.