The Double Standard of Smoking vs. Vaping in Thailand: Asa Saligupta Advocates for Change

Every day in Thailand, a staggering 47 individuals lose their lives to cigarette smoking, yet not a single fatality has been recorded from using e-cigarettes. It’s a statistic that underscores a perplexing double standard: while traditional cigarettes are readily available at every corner store, e-cigarettes remain outlawed.

Millions around the globe have turned to vaping as a lifesaver, a reliable exit from the clutches of smoking addiction. Numerous countries eagerly promote vaping as a safer alternative, highlighting its potential to save lives. But in Thailand, the rhythm dances differently. The government’s stance is a curious one—illuminating the dangers of vaping while seemingly turning a blind eye to the catastrophic toll of smoking, which claims 71,000 lives a year as the country’s number one preventable cause of death.

Thai officials have continuously asserted that vaping carries dangers similar to smoking, but troves of peer-reviewed scientific literature offer no such evidence. Contrarily, Britain’s National Health Service is explicit in its findings—vaping is “far less harmful than cigarettes.” Back in 2015, a revealing independent review by Public Health England famously declared vaping devices to be about 95% safer than smoking tobacco.

Asa Saligupta, president of Ends Cigarette Smoking Thailand, passionately addresses these discrepancies in the Bangkok Post’s “Deeper Dive Thailand” podcast. “Vaping has been around for at least two decades,” he emphasizes. “We have countless testimonials and scientific backing supporting its relative safety.”

He explains the issue at heart: smoked tobacco relies on combustion to release active ingredients, a process that produces tar—devastatingly harmful to lungs and a known cancer catalyst. Additionally, tobacco teems with an array of deadly carcinogens. Over the span of two decades, more than 100 million people have been claimed by cigarette smoking. In stark contrast, fewer than 100 deaths have been attributed to vaping—a staggering ratio of 10,000,000:1. Most of these rare deaths were linked specifically to a brand of THC-laden vape juice laced with Vitamin E-acetate during the EVALI outbreak of 2019-2020.

The anti-vaping sentiment driven by what seems to be economic motives echoes loudly. The Bangkok Post quoted a government agency official voicing concerns for tobacco farmers, suggesting that e-cigarettes could severely impact their income. A worthwhile contemplation remains: must the lives of 71,000 be sacrificed annually to sustain tobacco farming?

Mr. Saligupta proposes a viable solution—transitioning farmers to growing tobacco for safer alternatives, such as heat-not-burn devices or liquid nicotine production for vape juice. He recounts conversations with farmers who quickly grasped these benefits.

When presented with the question of whether vaping truly aids in quitting smoking, data speaks affirmatively. A peer-reviewed study in 2021 found that daily e-cigarette use among U.S. smokers increased cessation likelihood by eightfold. Similarly, a 2019 randomized control study indicated that daily e-cigarette use significantly boosted smoking abstinence rates compared to other nicotine replacements.

“Vaping helps people quit smoking,” Mr. Saligupta asserts. “Even the British government distributed vapes to those seeking an out from smoking.”

If evidence supports that vaping is indeed safer and assists smokers in quitting, a provocative inquiry arises: How many lives have been cost by Thailand’s firm ban? It’s a thought-provoking conundrum for Thailand’s vast pool of tourists as well, some of whom may resort to smoking while within the kingdom’s borders.

Another concern, often cited, is the possibility of vaping serving as a backdoor to smoking. Yet, a 2023 study suggests that exclusive e-cigarette users are unlikely to transition to traditional tobacco. The consensus remains firm—vapes should never cater to children or non-smokers. “Ban marketing aimed at youth, not the device,” Mr. Saligupta argues.

He admonishes that while e-cigarettes are less damaging due to their delivery mechanism, nicotine itself is not harmless. Potential risks include cardiovascular disease and effects on adolescent brain development and bone health.

There emerges a call for controlled legalization, echoing the practices of neighboring countries like the Philippines and Indonesia. Revenue from taxing vaping products could fund measures preventing minors’ access but ensure safe devices and e-liquids replace potentially dangerous unregulated options that saturate the market.

The future of vaping in the kingdom hangs in uncertainty. A committee appointed last year leaned towards legalization, yet entrenched interests might impede progress. Mr. Saligupta holds a steady hope that logic, reason, and scientific evidence will ultimately prevail.

For more insights, watch Asa Saligupta’s comprehensive dialogue in the Bangkok Post’s latest “Deeper Dive” vodcast edition by scanning the QR code or searching for “Deeper Dive Thailand” on your preferred podcast platform.