Singapore intensifies efforts to curb vaping among youth and improve public awareness
SINGAPORE – In a bid to combat vaping, health authorities in Singapore removed approximately 6,000 online listings selling e-vaporisers in the first nine months of 2024, a significant increase from the 3,000 listings removed in the entirety of 2023. The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported these figures in response to parliamentary queries about measures to curb vaping, especially in schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs).
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns about youth vaping, with nearly 9,680 people caught using or possessing vapes in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 7,838 in all of 2023. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasized that vaping is as harmful, if not more so, than cigarette smoking and has been banned in Singapore since 2018. He noted that the vape industry targets young people by marketing the product as a “cool” lifestyle choice with appealing fruity flavors.
Additionally, an anti-vaping campaign launched in March 2024 by four trade associations, which represent coffee shops, eateries, and provision shops, has helped raise awareness about the harmful effects of vaping. The campaign includes physical anti-vaping posters and digital outreach, such as an Instagram page aimed at younger audiences.
The rise in vaping cases was also reflected in a recent survey, which found an increase in vape usage among Singapore citizens and permanent residents, particularly among those aged 21-39. Despite this, the proportion of regular cigarette smokers has declined, according to the survey.
In response to the uptick in vaping cases, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has ramped up enforcement, including working with platform owners to remove illegal vape listings. The authorities are also focusing on educating the public about the dangers of vaping, aiming to deter further use, especially among the younger population.
