Of almost 4,000 people caught owning or using vapes, about 25 percent are students

SINGAPORE – Nearly 4,000 people in Singapore were arrested and fined for possessing or using electronic vaporizers over a three-month period, health authorities said on Oct 23.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), in a joint statement, stated that the number of 3,840 registered between July 1 and September 30 represents an increase of 52 percent compared to the previous quarter.

There were 743 cases of students caught vaping by schools and institutes of higher education (DIH), 591 cases detected during community inspection patrols, 44 cases found through inspection operations in the vicinity of DIH and 16 cases detected at checkpoints .

The Ministry of Health and HSA said they are working with the Health Promotion Council and the Ministry of Education to step up efforts to address the vaping problem.

The agencies also stated that they are also working with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the National Environment Agency and the National Parks Board to carry out enforcement operations on several fronts, including at checkpoints, online platforms and in the community, schools and IHL.

To solve the problem in schools, authorities are focusing their efforts onhighlighting the harms of vaping and that it is illegal in Singapore.

For example, HPB launched a campaign in July, which was promoted both in outdoor advertisements and on social media channels.

HPB has also published notices on the HealthHub digital platform that aim to explain “widespread misconceptions” and falsehoods about vaping, and educate people about common myths linked to vaping.

It also includes warnings that explain the health risks and legal implications of vaping. Additionally, schools and IHL have stepped up efforts to teach students about the harmful impacts of vaping on individuals, families, and society.

Primary and secondary schools also partnered with HPB to teach approximately 37,000 students about the benefits of a nicotine-free lifestyle through skits from July to September.

Students who were caught smoking also received support and strategies to quit. Around 830 young people received counseling during the same three-month period.

Online surveillance

The HSA said it monitors online content to identify those who use vapes in public and use or pose with vapes in photos or videos.

In July and August, it fined five offenders – four men and one woman, aged between 13 and 34 – who posted content of themselves using vapes on their Instagram and TikTok accounts.

The posts have since been removed, authorities said.

A 49-year-old man’s Tampines home was raided in September after a video of him vaping in an MRT booth was circulated on social media.