Singapore, a country that prides itself on its elaborate technocratic government, is taking a distinctly non-technocratic approach to vaping. The small Asian nation has pursued a policy that seeks to make Singapore “100% Smoke Free.” And although that sounds like an admirable goal, their expansive program also includes vaping devices.
Currently, Singapore’s Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act prohibits the import of devices, distribution, and sale devices which “resemble or are designed to resemble” smoking. The Act goes on to ban anything that could be said resemble tobacco products, or “mimics the act of smoking.”
If you are caught selling, or importing a vaporizer you can face up to six months in prison or up to a $10,000 fine. Repeat offenses double these penalties. There have been a few isolated incidents where the government has targeted people they said were conducting import of the devices, but there is scant evidence that individual vapers who use the devices discreetly are being targeted.
Earlier this week, parliament again revived the debate on vaping and it got heated. Senior Minister of State for Health, Chee Hong Tat asked MP Leon Perera whether “he was supportive of e-cigarettes because his business consultancy, Spire Group, had a client that supplies glue used for cigarette sticks.”
Other Members of Parliament also chimed in with their concerns on the absolutist vaping ban. MP Louis Ng noted that a number of studies have been done in the West – specifically citing those of the UK, New Zealand and the US – as to the benefits of allowing and even promoting vaping as a means of smoking cessation.
During parliamentary debate, there was a wide array of questioning the merits of the outright ban, from direct criticism to suggesting that vaping could be allowed if individuals entered into a smoking cessation program registered with the state. MPs across the political spectrum raised their concerns with vaping proscription in a country that is focused on ending smoking and promoting public health. This will likely not be the end of this discussion.