April 22, -- The End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) Group has praised the UK's efforts to provide free e-cigarette kits and its emphasis on preventing minors from accessing e-cigarettes, according to reports. The positive response follows the recent announcement of £45 million in funding for the distribution of e-cigarette kits in England to reduce smoking rates.

The campaign also includes a £3 million budget specifically to monitor and crack down on the sale of e-cigarettes to underage buyers.

Meanwhile, the sale and use of e-cigarettes remains illegal in Thailand, leading to an unregulated black market and increased opportunities for minors to use them. As a result, the ECST group wants the Thai government to reconsider and possibly legalize e-cigarettes in the 2023 elections.

Asa Saligupta, a representative of ECST, and the Facebook page "What is an e-cigarette? Shared their thoughts on how UK regulations could benefit Thailand...

"E-cigarettes are legal in England, allowing the government to take action and effectively enforce laws to protect minors. The UK government will allocate 45 million pounds to reduce smoking rates in the country and another 3 million pounds to crack down on shops selling e-cigarettes to under-18s."

The UK's Swap to Stop program aims to distribute free e-cigarette kits to more than 1 million smokers to encourage them to quit traditional cigarettes and switch to less harmful alternatives. The move forms part of the UK government's wider commitment to reduce smoking rates in England to below 5% by 2030. In conjunction with the campaign, the sale of illegal e-cigarettes will be cracked down on by a dedicated "Illegal Vape Enforcement team", which has the power to close shops found to be breaking the law. As the Asa explains, the UK's approach is in stark contrast to the current situation in Thailand...

"Thailand's ban claims to protect minors, but the sale and use of e-cigarettes is open and commonplace. Children can easily obtain e-cigarettes through online channels without any regulation or inspection."

Maris Karanyawat, another representative of the ECST panel, suggested that following the example of the UK might be the solution to Thailand's current vaping policy problems... "The sub-committee studying factors affecting the health system and overseeing the enforcement of the Public Health Law has issued a report based on comprehensive research and opinions of all groups involved in the issue of e-cigarettes. The report recommends that the ban on e-cigarettes should be lifted in Thailand so that they can be properly controlled through the Tobacco Product Control Law 2017."

Many supporters of legalizing e-cigarettes want Thailand's new government to take a more consistent approach to elections after 2023, in line with international practice and emerging scientific evidence. In theory, this would help reduce negative effects on smokers and protect minors from vaping products.

In preparation for the upcoming 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to be held in Panama in November, Maris said, "We hope that the Thai representative will consider the Public Health Committee's report and recommend developing approaches to tobacco harm reduction based on new scientific evidence that e-cigarettes should be controlled differently than combustible cigarettes, Because they have different detrimental effects."

The overall goal is to reduce the exposure of Thailand's 9.9 million smokers to toxic chemicals and promote healthier alternatives.