Singapore’s Tough Stance on Vaping: Crackdown & Public Health Campaign

Sat Jan 17 2026 10:03:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Singapore intensifies its fight against vaping with stringent laws, including hefty fines and caning, amid rising concerns over drug-laced e-cigarettes entering the market.

In an aggressive crackdown on vaping, Singapore is implementing severe penalties including caning for offenders, amid a surge in drug-laced e-cigarettes known as K-pods. The government's extensive public health campaign aims to reduce vaping across the city-state, with strict law enforcement at borders and a hotline for public reporting. As Singapore explores tighter regulations, questions arise on the effectiveness of a ban against a growing black market.

It's a busy day at Woodlands Checkpoint, Singapore's main land crossing on the border with Malaysia, and thousands of cars are slowly trundling past the watchful eyes of customs officer Belinda Liaw and her team.

Suddenly Liaw steps forward, signalling at a white Toyota van to stop. Her team swarms the vehicle immediately, their blue-gloved fists knocking all over the chassis to check for false compartments. Others question the driver, rifle through his belongings and scour his mobile phone.

They are searching for vapes - which the Singapore government has spent months waging war against.

Vapes or e-cigarettes have been banned in the city-state since 2018. But in recent years drug-laced vapes, known by their street name K-pods, have become popular on the black market - unnerving a country known for its zero tolerance of drugs.

Authorities have launched a harsh crackdown, putting in place tough punishments with more targeted laws on the way. Now, if you get caught with an e-cigarette in Singapore, you could be jailed, sent to state rehab, or even caned. A massive public health campaign has blanketed the island, warning Singaporeans of the dangers of vaping.

It comes as many countries consider tighter regulation. A World Health Organization (WHO) bulletin has called Singapore's campaign a turning point that will influence the next decade of global tobacco and drug policy.

Could others follow suit?

Authorities in Singapore are enforcing strict measures at border checkpoints and conducting roving patrols to catch those reluctant to give up their vapes. A hotline has been set up for the public to report anyone suspected of vaping, resulting in over 2,600 reports made in the first nine weeks.

The government argues that banning vaping before it becomes entrenched is a preventative measure against potential health risks associated with e-cigarettes, particularly among youth. However, Singapore's approach has drawn mixed reactions, with some vapers expressing discontent over the blanket ban.

As the crackdown continues, questions loom over its long-term effectiveness, with many speculating about the resilience of the black market and the potential consequences for adult users who prefer non-drug variants of e-cigarettes.