Medical Students Urge Parliament to Keep E-Cigarette Ban
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Medical students from 29 institutions have urged a parliamentary committee to keep Thailand's bans on importing and selling e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, saying some Thai children start vaping as young as 7.
On October 22, Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a Democrat Party MP and chairman of the House Public Health Committee, received a petition from representatives of the Medical Students' Federation of Thailand, medical student clubs, and military medical students from 29 institutions nationwide.
The students called on Parliament and the government to retain the bans on importing and selling e-cigarettes and new tobacco products.
A federation representative cited Thailand's sixth National Health Examination Survey and seventh survey, conducted in 2024-25. The seventh survey found that the number of e-cigarette users aged 15-19 had risen to about 400,000, from about 200,000 in the sixth survey. It also estimated about 60,000 users aged 10-14. The representative said some children had tried vaping as young as 7.
E-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and nicotine pouches contain nicotine, which can cause severe addiction, the representative said. The products are marketed with misleading claims that they are safer than conventional cigarettes, while their flavors, scents, and colorful designs appeal to children. They are also easy to buy online, the representative added.
Medical students, who will treat patients with tobacco-related diseases in the future, worked with student groups and partner organizations to collect more than 633,224 signatures from people opposed to e-cigarettes, the representative said.
The students outlined two demands: that the bans on importing and selling e-cigarettes, HTPs, and nicotine pouches remain in force; and that lawmakers reject any review that could open the way to imports, taxation, or legalization of the products. They urged the committee and other officials to put the health of young people first.
Sakoltee said he would bring the students' proposals, statistics, and position to the committee for consideration as it looks for ways to protect young people's health and the wider public.
