E-cigarette ban in Thailand

One of the troubles that tourists and travelers in Thailand may encounter is the ban on electronic cigarettes. Since 2014, the sale and use of electronic cigarettes have been banned here. Moreover, the violation is not only the sale or use, but also the turnover. This means that if the police or customs officers at the border find an electronic cigarette or parts of it in your possession, you may well go to jail. The punishment is quite harsh:

• If you use electronic cigarettes for your needs, up to 5 years in prison and a fine of five times the cost of an electronic device are provided.
• For the sale, the punishment is even stricter – up to 10 years in prison, and also a fine.

Interestingly, the law provides for a ban only on electronic cigarettes purchased after the introduction of the ban in 2014, i.e. if you can document (using a check, for example) prove that you purchased it before 2014, this is not a violation, at least for now.

Despite the ban, these electronic devices can still be seen on sale in popular tourist places or in bars, since so far the police have not seriously taken up this violation. However, we recommend that you refrain from using them and importing them into the country. The police of Thailand is traditionally considered very corrupt, and it is quite possible to face a situation where for such a violation you will have to pay a fairly large bribe to avoid punishment. And do not believe the assurances of cigarette sellers in Thailand that everything is legal, because it is possible that after the purchase you will immediately be stopped by a policeman working with the seller in collusion.