Imagine this: young Thai vapers puffing away a staggering 26,994 baht a year—or about 2,245 baht each month—on e-cigarettes. It seems these funds are often sourced from none other than the living allowances graciously bestowed upon them by their unsuspecting parents, according to a recent jaw-dropping survey. Now, before you rush to judgement, there’s a fascinating twist to this tale. A coalition of youth empowerment and health advocates has launched a spirited mission to transform these vapors of cash into clouds of wealth. By redirecting their vaping expenditure into savings and investments, each young saver could potentially pocket a cool 1.87 million baht in 30 years. Not too shabby, right?
Phatcharaphan Prachuaplap, the earnest secretary-general of the Thailand Youth Institute (TYI), couldn’t help but express his amazement at the survey’s findings. In a reality where countless individuals are grappling with financial strains, the revelation that allowances given with love and care are evaporating into thin air through vaping was sobering. He noted, “While parents of these vaping teens face the woes of rising living costs, their kids are turning their allowance into a health hazard.”
The illuminating survey, conducted by Siam University, peered into the wallets and habits of 400 young vapers, aged between 13 to 24. Among the findings, a shocking 87.75% of these budding nicotine aficionados admitted they mainly relied on their loving parental units for their puffing funds. Moreover, more than half of their precious cash—54.50% to be exact—went up in vapor.
Here’s where the plot thickens. If these teens chose to invest that 2,245 baht monthly in an investment program endorsed by the Bank of Thailand, promising a tantalizing 5% interest rate, they could amass an impressive 1.07 million baht in profits from an accumulated capital of 808,200 baht over a mere 30 years. Phatcharaphan passionately encourages the youth to embrace an investment plan as a fresh and financially savvy New Year’s resolution.
This visionary shift is encapsulated in a public campaign ingeniously titled “Happy New Life,” which unites forces with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and a slew of other partners to champion financial wellbeing over fleeting nicotine pleasures.
Phloychanok Saen-athit, a Communication Arts lecturer at Siam University and the intrepid leader of the survey, shed light on another intriguing aspect of this phenomenon—social media influencers infusing glamour into the vaping culture and its glorified portrayal in popular TV series. Despite e-cigarettes being listed as illegal products in the Land of Smiles, ThaiHealth posits that from 2019 to 2022, the percentage of young vapers has astonishingly skyrocketed by a factor of 5.3, leaping from 3.3% to a whopping 17.6%.
With all these factors swirling in a haze of complexities, it’s clear that the stakes are high. Yet, there’s a silver lining: amidst a cloud of youth battling the allure of vaping, a beacon of financial wisdom awaits, promising a future much brighter and wealthier for those daring enough to take a breath and a thoughtful look into their fiscal future.
This all sounds great, but do you really think teens are going to just stop vaping and invest instead? I’ve been a teacher for years, and getting kids to think long-term isn’t easy.
True, but with the right education and role models, it can happen. We should work on empowering them!
Education is key, but it must be practical and relatable. Financial literacy should be a part of the curriculum, not just an afterthought.
Honestly, this is just another case of adults trying to control teenagers’ lives. Let them make their own mistakes and learn from them.
I see your point, but isn’t it better to guide them to make better choices? It’s not just about control, it’s about giving them tools for a healthy future.
Fair enough, Henry. I guess a balance is needed. No harm in offering them options.
Exactly, it’s not about control, it’s about presenting alternatives. If they have other options laid out clearly, they might just make the smart choice.
This is ridiculous! Let people spend their money how they want. Not everyone cares about saving for 30 years away. We live in the now.
Living in the now is fine until the bills come due. Financial planning isn’t just for old people.
I guess you have a point, but there’s gotta be a way to balance both enjoyment and responsibility.
The influence of social media on this surge of vaping is scary. We need to tackle this problem from all angles, including the marketing side.
So true, Maya. It’s alarming how much control influencers have over young minds. We need stricter regulations.
That’s why targeting both the financial aspect and the social aspect is crucial. Influence their minds positively instead!
Exactly, we need campaigns that are just as captivating as those promoting vaping but with positive messages.
Sounds amazing in theory, but what about those who already struggle to save? Vaping might be their only escape.
Escape or not, it’s a dangerous habit. There are healthier ways to cope with stress and financial strain.
Yeah, you’re right. Guess we need more mental health support as well. It’s all interconnected.
Absolutely, addressing mental health is just as important as financial education in solving this issue.
I wish someone had told me about the power of savings when I was a teen. It’s a lesson you can’t learn too early.
The math adds up, but let’s be real, saving isn’t as fun as vaping. How do we make saving ‘cool’?
The real challenge is convincing these kids’ parents. They’re the ones funding the vaping, often unknowingly.
That’s because many parents don’t know what these allowances are being used for. More transparency is needed.
Parents need to be more involved and perhaps even start the conversation about money themselves.
Honestly, with the economic downturn, can you really blame anyone for wanting a bit of stress relief through vaping? We’ve got bigger issues.
Totally agree with Phloychanok. The glorification of vaping in media needs to be addressed. It’s a huge factor.
But media is only part of the problem. Society glamorizes risky behaviors in general. We need a cultural shift.
As more voices join this conversation, the hopeful outcome is more awareness and action. It’s everyone’s responsibility.
Exactly! Collective action can bring about real change.
It takes more than hope though, it takes planning and policy changes. Let’s keep pushing for tangible results.
The ‘Happy New Life’ campaign sounds promising, but campaigns come and go. We need sustained efforts.
I think Phatcharaphan’s vision is spot on. Kids need to see that the future can be exciting with the right financial decisions.
Five years ago it was booze, now it’s vaping. Teens will always find something new to waste money on.
When parents learn about these stats, I hope it sparks more family discussions about money and priorities.
At the end of the day, all we can do is provide the knowledge and let the youth make their own choices and learn.