Case studies from international e-cigarette control measures and reasons why Thailand should maintain measures to ban e-cigarettes

Abstract

E-cigarettes are serious public health problems for children and youth in many countries. The control of e-cigarettes is of great and importance in limiting youth use of e-cigarettes. This study reviews e-cigarette control measures and their benefits and adverse effects, as well as provides country case studies as examples of e-cigarette control. It addresses how country policies of prohibition or allowance of e-cigarette sales affects children and youth, leading to relevant policy recommendations for Thailand regarding smoking control measures. Vital steps from our investigation include:

1. It is critically essential to maintain measures banning the import of e-cigarettes because many country efforts show that banning e-cigarette imports and illegal entry is the most effective measure to protect young vapers.
2. All relevant government agencies must strictly enforce the law against e-cigarettes without falling into the trap of wanting to earn financial benefit from their introduction. Importantly, the Protocol on the Elimination of Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products of the World Health Organization should be signed and strictly implemented.
3. A system of coordinated monitoring of predatory marketing aimed at youth should be established with various interventions developed to address tobacco industry actions, especially illicit e-cigarette promotions.
4. Campaigns on the prevention of e-cigarette use with provision of knowledge of e-cigarette myths and harms should be accelerated. The misinformation about e-cigarettes must be exposed in the curriculum of students from elementary school to higher education, including those on online media platforms that offer promotions and utilize youth influencers.