Going to Prison For Vaping?

There are countries where just owning an e-cig could lead to confiscation, fines, and even PRISON!

Legislation regarding vaping is constantly evolving on a global level. People traveling abroad risk prison if they are caught vaping in countries where e-cigarettes are banned. For example, in Thailand people caught with e-cigs risk ten years in prison. It’s being reported that India is considering banning vaping as well.

Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. However, in many countries using e-cigarettes or vape pens is restricted or banned completely.

Since vaping is still a fairly new territory, the laws are constantly changing as governments around the world are evaluating the health implications of e-cigs.

Banned Countries for Vaping — **Risk: Although laws are constantly evolving in different countries, this map details where vaping is currently banned or restricted across the world.**

Many people have switched from smoking combustible cigarettes to vaping because it has been confirmed by several researchers to be at least 95% safer than traditional tobacco products. However, the World Health Organisation released a report in 2014 detailing how there was insufficient evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers actually quit.

It is because of said report that countries all around the globe are clamping down on the use of vaporizers and e-cigarettes, many choosing to ban them altogether. We in the vaping community know this is fueled by the billions of dollars lost by Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. There is no money to be made by well people.

It is this grey area of the stance on vaping that cause hapless travelers to risk fines.

Some countries might ban everything – the import, sale, and use of e-cigarettes – associated with vaping, others might only ban devices that contain liquid nicotine (rather than nicotine-free liquids).

So what exactly are the worldwide restrictions on e-cigarettes, and what will happen if you are caught violating them? In Thailand, e-cigarettes are banned completely, with punishments for those found with them ranging from confiscation to ten years in prison.

Global Vaping Laws | Soul Vapor E Liquid Blog — **Be careful: In Thailand, e-cigarettes are banned completely, with punishments for those found with them ranging from confiscation to ten years in a squalid prison.**

Vaping was only made illegal in Thailand three years ago, so many travelers are unaware they are breaking the law.

Another country which clamped down on vaping after the WHO’s 2014 report was Brazil, where the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes have since been banned. Uruguay has a total ban on vaping and e-cigarettes, while the UAE prevents vaping equipment being brought into the country via confiscation at the airport.

The WHO's 2014 Report on Vaping | Soul Vapor E Liquid — Laws of the land: Another country which clamped down on vaping after the WHO’s 2014 report was Brazil, where the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes have since been banned.

Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan and Qatar have banned vaping completely, while regular cigarettes are still legal. Other counties where vaping is banned completely are Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.

Some countries, including Hong Kong, permit the use of e-cigarettes, as long as they don’t contain nicotine. In Turkey, vaping is prohibited indoors and on public transport. Meanwhile, in the past month, India announced that is was considering a ban on e-cigarettes.

Nicotine Free E Liquid Policy | Soul Vapor E Liquid — **Compromise: Some countries, including Hong Kong, permit the use of e-cigarettes, so long as they don’t contain nicotine.**

With so many strict laws surrounding vaping across the world, Britain’s approach to the habit seems liberal – which could lead to many Brits into trouble on vacation.

Richard Hyslop, Chief Executive of the Independent British Vape Trade Association told MailOnline:

“While we may disagree with much of the regulation relating to vape products in the UK, it is important to remember, that compared to many countries we are very fortunate with the approach the UK Government has taken.

Globally, the regulatory picture differs hugely and unfortunately, there is a mixed message when there should be a very clear message.

There is never a situation where it is better to smoke than it is to vape. We know that vaping is at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking and carries less than one percent of the risk when it comes to cancer.

Instead of criminalizing vaping and vapers, governments across the world should be embracing the tremendous opportunities vaping provides, in terms of offering smokers a significantly less harmful alternative to smoked tobacco.

Until such a time, vapers from the UK, to avoid falling foul of the law, should make themselves aware of the regulations relating to vaping in any countries they visit.”

The same stance and recommendations should be followed by the rest of us in the world till such a time when the safety of vaping over smoking is no longer in question.