By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-27 09:27:03 | Updated at 2025-03-30 14:17:04
3 days ago
Thailand has introduced a bold initiative that offers cash rewards to citizens for reporting e-cigarette use to combat the rising trend of vaping and address public health concerns.
The Prime Minister’s office announced the plan on Wednesday, local media reported.
Reports can be made through a government app, and informants who provide tips leading to an arrest may receive up to 60 per cent of the fine imposed. For instance, someone caught using e-cigarettes in public faces a fine of 5,000 baht (US$147), meaning the informant could earn 3,000 baht.
Sellers and smugglers of e-cigarettes are also set to face harsher penalties.
Selling vaping products can result in a maximum jail sentence of three years and a fine of up to 600,000 baht. Smugglers may face 10 years in prison and fines reaching five times the value of the goods.
Citizens are encouraged to include photographs with their complaints to aid investigations.
The government said the initiative aims to reduce e-cigarette use among minors.
