Thailand is a holiday destination known for its relaxed attitude and friendly approach, which is perhaps why over a million Brits holiday here each year, but you could easily find yourself on the wrong side of the law in the Land of Smiles, especially if you vape!

According to the Foreign Office, vaping has been banned in Thailand since 2014, and any travellers found to be in possession of an e-cigarette or vaping device could find themselves in very serious trouble indeed. Not only will their property be confiscated, but they will receive a hefty on-the-spot fine, and they could even be sentenced to up to 10 years in a Thai prison!

Thailand’s ban on e-cigarettes may have been around for almost 3 years, but it is not well documented, and as it is completely legal to vape in the UK and other European Countries, the majority of foreign holidaymakers are simply not aware that they are breaking the law by bringing their vaporisers into the country.

In a bid to protect British Travellers from the Thai Vaping Ban, the Foreign Office has released the following statement on its Thailand ‘local laws and customs’ webpage: “You can’t bring vaporisers (like e-cigarettes and e-baraku) or refills into Thailand. These items are likely to be confiscated and you could be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years if convicted. The sale or supply of e-cigarettes and similar devices is also banned and you could face a heavy fine or up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty. Several British Nationals have been arrested for possession of vaporisers and e-cigarettes.”

While I’m sure there are other things Thai officials could be concentrating on, it seems the unsuspecting vaper could be their greatest target this holiday season, so leave your e-cig at home, or your trip to the Land of Smiles could end up in tears!