Thread: Travellers Unaware they Could Face 10 Years in Prison for Vaping in Thailand

BANGKOK – A travel agent is urging others to tell their customers not to vape in Thailand as they could face up to 10 years in prison.

Pat Waterton, manager at Langley Travel, said she was unaware of the ban.

She only learnt of the law when her nephew James was forced to pay £125 as an on-the-spot fine after being threatened with jail for having an e-cigarette in Bangkok
Speaking to Travel Weekly Waterton said: “If I’m selling Thailand I will definitely mention it now. All agents should. Thailand is very popular so we should make sure we are telling people about things that could ruin a holiday.”

In November 2014, Thailand approved legislation outlawing the import of e-cigarettes into the country. This has since been expanded to the export as well as sale of e-smoking devices and equipment.

Although it is common to see people vaping in Thailand offenders are technically breaking the law as possession is illegal.

The Foreign Office advice is clear. On its website it instructs travellers not to bring vaporisers (like e-cigarettes) or refills into Thailand. The Foreign Office said: “These items are likely to be confiscated and you could be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years if convicted.

“The sale or supply of e-cigarettes and similar devices is also banned and you could face a heavy fine or up to five years imprisonment if found guilty. Several Foreign Nationals have been arrested for possession of vaporisers and e-cigarettes.”

Last month a Swiss man was apparently arrested and charged with “importation” of e-cigarettes for vaping in public in Thailand. He was arrested, led away, and sat six days in jail. He is now free on bail while he awaits trial.

Kuoni Travel, a UK tour operator which handles trips to Thailand, said it always advises travellers to check with the Foreign Office before embarking on a trip. A spokesperson for Kuoni said: “We encourage our customers to be travel aware and to visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Travel Aware site for foreign travel advice before they book.

“Travel Aware information can be found on our website and our Personal Travel Experts in store direct customers to the site at holiday planning stages for specific country advice, including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health.”

To learn more about vaping in Thailand a website was created called Thailand Vapers, an English language forum for members in Thailand and the rest of Asia to talk about vaping.

Travellers Unaware they Could Face 10 Years in Prison for Vaping in Thailand | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

She only learnt of the law when her nephew James was forced to pay £125 as an on-the-spot fine after being threatened with jail for having an e-cigarette in Bangkok

Actually by some thetsakij crook no doubt.

Discussed this on my Vaping Thread some time ago...And here we have it...

Smoking tobacco products in public is still legal though. Just don't let anyone catch you pretending to vape. It might confuse Somchai.

10 years for vaping.
Kill a cop....either go to the wat for a few weeks or just waltz off to wherever you want.

Moral of the story; Cops are lowly civil servants and aren't worth worrying about but don't you DARE threaten, by however a minuscule margin, the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly.


15 years for picking wild mushrooms sounds on par with the vaping sentence.

Now that you mention it I've seen some long-term expats vaping.

Next time I'm in the company of a vaper I'll inquire if they know...or care.

Maybe it's the same as the midnight curfew and no pickup truck loadbed riders.

They know and don't care.

I'm guessing that's like the motorcycle helmet law....

I know one Thai based farang innkeeper who stopped smoking cigs and is now hooked on vaping.

Loads vamping around Banglamphu, there's definitely a market for a savvy importer.
Brought a load over with refills for the outlaws oop north, couldn't get their hands on them quick enough.

Ya gota laugh at Thailand when ya can bash the Fuk out of someone then go down the Cop shop and Wei at the coont and pay 500 Baht then go to the pub and get pissed up yet if ya Vape ya going down for 10.

Look,

I really enjoy basing myself in Thailand but i equally enjoy realizing that the country and most of the people living here are fuking stupid retarded arses is an asset.

Dumb fuking place innnit.

Good fun though as long as ya don't fooking Vape.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Loads vamping around Banglamphu, there's definitely a market for a savvy importer.
Brought a load over with refills for the outlaws oop north, couldn't get their hands on them quick enough.

Importing e-cigs is punishable by up to five years.

It is not illegal to be in possession of them per se, but if you do have them you are assumed to be in possession of "goods that have not been taxed" and that's where the ten years comes in.

At least that's how I understand it.

No doubt Phillip Morris and the rest filled a hefty cake tin to get that on the books.

third world country
third world laws
third world lawmakers
third world police

Originally Posted by baldrick

third world country
third world laws
third world lawmakers
third world police

Bangkok is first world. E cigarettes are banned because kids use them to get high.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Originally Posted by baldrick

third world country
third world laws
third world lawmakers
third world police

Bangkok is first world. E cigarettes are banned because kids use them to get high.

Don't be fucking silly.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Loads vamping around Banglamphu

Vamping, though illegal, apparently, is generally overlooked...

Thing is, vaping is perfect for yaba, hence Thai authorities won't allow it.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Importing e-cigs is punishable by up to five years.

It is not illegal to be in possession of them per se, but if you do have them you are assumed to be in possession of "goods that have not been taxed" and that's where the ten years comes in.

At least that's how I understand it.

No doubt Phillip Morris and the rest filled a hefty cake tin to get that on the books.

At least we agree, on that score, eh? A well-made point of view. Cheers!

I've seen a good few Thais vaping around Bangkok.


Maybe the cops are annoyed that they'll lose out on fining farangs for dropping cigarete butts

Originally Posted by TuskegeeBen

Bangkok rocks, especially from an infrastructural point of view. And, that's compared to many urban locations in the good ole, red-nednecked U.S.of A, or even the UK, for that matter.

What drugs are you on?


Venice of the east, right?

Originally Posted by TuskegeeBen

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilsonandson
Quote:
Originally Posted by baldrick
third world country
third world laws
third world lawmakers
third world police
Bangkok is first world. E cigarettes are banned because kids use them to get high.
Don't be fucking silly.

Considering the source of your chosen usage of expletives, to convey your "thoughts", apparently, you (yourself) don't get out much, from the density of the "compound", eh? Thus, the anger in your posts. i know. Been there, done that, and I've got the T-Shirts to prove it.

Now, on the lighter side, FYI ~ Bangkok rocks, especially from an infrastructural point of view. And, that's compared to many urban locations in the good ole, red-nednecked U.S.of A, or even the UK, for that matter.

Wilsonandson, puts a considerable amount of effort into providing useful, interesting and entertaining information to these forums. And, fyi, no one here is deliberately "pissing" into your bowl of Cheerios"! Just poking at you, but mostly in humorous jest.

And, as "weird" as it may seem to you, we're, actually all on the same team here! So, for heaven sake man, lighten-up a bit! Ok? Cheers

Another fool, seduced by the shiny surface of the shit hole that is Bangkok. Rather like their surface attempts to impose draconian punishments for minor offences. The entire show is as shallow as your intellect.

So, you don't like BKK.

Fair enough, asshole.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Bangkok is first world. E cigarettes are banned because kids use them to get high.

You cant be that stupid...