The arrest of a couple in Pathum Thani for selling illegal e-cigarettes on Tuesday has prompted users of these products to speak up and ask lawmakers to reconsider the law, saying the bans were based on misinformation. And they weren’t wrong about that.
The couple were caught selling a product that happened to be on Thailand's banned list since 2014, and which has also been proven to be safer for health than cigarettes.
Thailand's laws on this product are still in development, so the laws on manufacturing, importing, trading and possessing it need to be reviewed. A complete ban is too harsh, and the penalties, which include imprisonment for up to ten years, are too severe.
Additionally, the regulation of e-cigarettes under tobacco law should take a cautious approach, one that is acceptable enough to the opposition and flexible enough for users and supporters.
There have been studies and debates about the pros and cons of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes may not be completely harmless, although the effects of e-cigarettes come from different manufacturers. But they are certainly safer than regular cigarettes. This fact alone should encourage us not to ignore the benefits e-cigarettes bring to smokers.
For example, scientists at Cancer Research UK found that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking cigarettes back in February. According to their study, people who switched to e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement products for at least six months had significantly lower levels of toxins and carcinogens in their bodies than those who continued to smoke.
But for e-cigarette users who continued to smoke, there was no such distinctive difference, emphasizing that switching can definitely reduce toxic exposure.
While they can't help smokers kick their nicotine addiction, e-cigarettes help them stay away from tobacco and other harmful substances found in cigarettes.
Many countries around the world, including the UK, have legalized e-cigarettes, while others still maintain bans on them. In 2014, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for standardization and quality control of e-cigarette liquids, disclosure of e-liquid ingredients, and other measures.
Thailand should learn from the EU’s approach. Thailand’s anti-smoking laws are among the world’s toughest. The country could impose restrictions on the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes, including adding health warnings to product labels and banning sales to minors. Manufacturers should also be required to disclose the ingredients of their e-liquids.
A complete ban on e-cigarettes forces users to buy them from abroad, or through untrusted sources, meaning there will be no taxes and no guarantee of product quality.
We need a sensible approach to e-cigarettes, not a ban.
