Singapore Tightens Vaping Restrictions as Lee Hsien Yang Urges Reconsideration of E-Cigarette Ban

SINGAPORE: Singaporean authorities have intensified their crackdown on e-cigarette possession, with hundreds of individuals fined in multiple operations since December 2023. In this context, Lee Hsien Yang, younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has publicly called for the Government to lift its prohibition on e-cigarettes, arguing that regulated vaping could provide public health benefits.

Responding to a recent enforcement sweep at Zoukout, Lee Hsien Yang voiced his stance on Facebook on December 8, suggesting that “the benefits that would accrue from regulated use of e-cigarettes outweigh the potential risks involved.” He asserted that evidence supports vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking, emphasizing the importance of establishing safety standards and allowing vaping as a tool for smokers seeking to quit.

Lee, who is affiliated with the Progress Singapore Party, continued to bolster his position in a December 17 post, sharing information from a UK-based study. He acknowledged, “I am not an expert,” but pointed out that research from the UK indicates that while not without risk, vaping poses a fraction of the dangers associated with traditional smoking.

Public responses to Lee’s advocacy were mixed. Supporters echoed his viewpoint on harm reduction, while critics expressed concern over the rising number of non-smokers, especially younger individuals, who are taking up vaping. Many argued that the trend could bring new societal challenges despite its potential benefits for current smokers.

The Government, however, remains firm in its stance. Enforcement actions against e-cigarettes have expanded to include heightened border inspections, with authorities reporting 177 arrests at Changi Airport alone in a December operation targeting incoming travelers with e-vaporisers. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) are set to continue these efforts across land and sea checkpoints throughout the coming months.

Within Singapore, schools and higher education institutions have also intensified measures to detect and discourage vaping, while online surveillance to curtail e-vaporiser sales and advertising has ramped up.

Under current law, individuals caught possessing, using, or purchasing e-vaporisers may face fines of up to S$2,000. Meanwhile, those found guilty of importing, distributing, or selling e-cigarettes can incur fines of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both for a first offence. Penalties double for repeat violations, reaching up to S$20,000 in fines and 12 months of imprisonment.