Singapore: The fight against vaping intensifies

Singapore is stepping up enforcement against vaping, which has been illegal in the country since 2018. Nearly 6,000 online ads for vaping products were removed in the first nine months of this year, double the total for all of 2023, according to health authorities. The increase reflects both increased enforcement and a spike in violations.[1].

Since 2018, Singapore has strengthened its legal framework by banning not only the sale and importation, but also the use and possession of e-cigarettes. These offences expose offenders to fines of up to 10,000 $S (€6,800) and six months in prison, with penalties doubled for cases of illegal importation.

However, in 2024, the numbers remain high: 9,680 people were sanctioned for vaping in the first nine months of the year, already surpassing the 7,838 cases recorded the previous year. Among them, 743 students were identified and reported by their schools, highlighting the growing scale of the phenomenon among young people.

A phenomenon that attracts more and more young people

The appeal of vaping remains strong among young Singaporeans. Reasons cited include the lack of lingering odour, appealing flavours, and a lower cost than cigarettes, which often escape taxes. In addition, social media is helping to popularise the products. A 2024 survey by Milieu Insight showed that 5.5 per cent of respondents used vapes, up from 3.9 per cent in 2021.

To counter this trend, Singapore’s Ministry of Health has been working with digital platforms to remove illegal ads and listings. However, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung warns of a vaping industry that deliberately targets young people, presenting the products as a “trendy” and great-tasting alternative while hiding their dangers.

According to the Minister of Health, vaping is still wrongly perceived as a "less harmful" option than cigarettes. However, studies and warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) remind us that vaping products are not harmless and that their long-term effects cannot yet be fully understood.

Local initiatives to raise awareness

Faced with this increase in usage, four professional associations bringing together owners of cafes, grocery stores and small businesses launched an anti-vaping campaign in March 2024. Posters and stickers were placed in points of sale to remind people of the dangers of vaping and the ban in force. This campaign is also aimed at young people through social networks, in particular via a dedicated Instagram page: @stop_illegalvaping_sg.

A persistent challenge despite progress

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Comparison with other countries shows a contrasting situation: while Singapore maintains a total ban, the United Kingdom, on the other hand, encourages smokers to adopt vaping as a tool to quit smoking. The case of the United Kingdom is unique and the restrictive legislation concerning vaping products currently under discussion in the country highlights that the country is deeply reconsidering its approach. However, these contrasting situations indicate that countries have adopted very diverse regulations for these products and this fuels a debate among consumers, some arguing for regulation rather than total prohibition.

But experts, such as Dr Lambert Low of the Institute of Mental Health, stress that authorising a harmful product would be irreversible. In the long term, strengthening prevention actions and improving awareness among young people and parents will be essential to lastingly reduce the appeal of these products.

©Generation Without Tobacco

RK

[1] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/6000-online-vape-listings-removed-in-first-nine-months-of-2024-double-that-for-whole-of-2023-moh (accessed 11/18/2024)