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Thailand the worst country in the world to be a vaper. UK the best.
Embargo: 00.01 Saturday 16 June 2018
The leaders of national bodies for e-cigarette users have said that Thailand is the worst country in the world to be a vaper. In a survey of the 36 national organisations, 33 of them nominated Thailand. Australia, with 18 nominations, was considered the second worst country while India was third with 16.
“Thailand has a draconian approach with tourists as well as local people regularly getting arrested for vaping. Police often search vehicles at road blocks for e-cigarettes and then use them to extract fines. This is not just terrible for Thai smokers who want to quit but also makes it a country to avoid for the tens of millions of tourists and business people around the world who vape,” said Asa Ace Saligupta who runs the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand consumer group.
Among those countries considered to be best in the world the UK came top with 32 nominations while Germany had 25 and France 23.
“The United Kingdom government has had the most remarkable change of heart on vaping. Four years ago it was trying to ban all e-cigarettes on the market. Today the UK has three million vapers – and this is accelerating the decline in smoking among the British,” said Professor Gerry Stimson of the UK charity New Nicotine Alliance.
| Country | Best | Worst | Country |
| United Kingdom | 32 | 33 | Thailand |
| Germany | 25 | 18 | Australia |
| France | 23 | 16 | India |
| USA | 12 | 11 | Japan |
| Switzerland | 9 | 10 | Turkey |
| Belgium | 7 | 6 | Italy |
| Spain | 6 | 6 | North Korea |
| Netherland | 5 | 6 | Indonesia |
| Russia | 5 | 6 | UAE |
| Poland | 3 | 6 | Tunisia |
The survey was conducted at the annual Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw, Poland which this year has attracted 500 delegates from 60 countries. The organisations surveyed are members of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations. Each member was allowed to nominate up to five countries in the worst category and five in the best from a list of the world’s 100 most populous nations.
Contacts:
Asa Ace Saligupta, End Cigarette Smoke Thailand +6681 970 5330, aceman3330@gmail.com
Ian Gregory: Abzed Communications: +44 7930 352 333 +44 20 7112 8680