A British tourist visiting a wildly popular travel hotspot has issued a warning to fellow holidaymakers over a costly mistake. Sara Green says she was sitting on a beach in Thailand with her partner and children when they were approached by local police.
Sara says she and her partner were sat on their sunbeds vaping at the time, unaware that having or using one is illegal and puts you at risk of heavy fines or even imprisonment. The country has some of the strictest rules against vapes in the world, and the battery-powered devices have been outlawed in the Southeast Asian country since 2014.
In a TikTok video describing her “terrifying” ordeal, Ms Green said the officers confiscated the vapes and took them to the nearby police station.
The 43-year-old told Yahoo Lifestyle reports that they questioned her partner first and were going to keep him overnight before taking him to court, but he managed to talk his way out of it.
She says they were ultimately fined 40,000 Thai Baht (around £927) before being allowed to go. But Ms Green said police told them “if you get caught again, there won’t be anything we can do for you”.
The mum called on fellow Brits to think again before taking a puff on an e-cigarette in the country.
“If you’re thinking about vaping in Thailand, just don’t do it,” she said. “It’s not worth it.” Visitors can be jailed for up to five years for just for possessing or using one, and the potential penalties if you’re accused of importing them are even higher.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warns in its travel guidance for the country that it’s “illegal to smoke in public with a fine of up to 5,000 Thai baht”.
“It is illegal to possess or use any vape, e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid, or heat-not-burn device in Thailand. Offences can lead to confiscation, heavy fines (typically 5,000–30,000 Thai bhat) detention, and court proceedings.
“You may be required to remain in Thailand until the case has been finalised. There are no exceptions for tourists or for personal use,” it adds.
Other things the FCDO cautions Britons to be aware of is the country’s zero-tolerance stance on the possession of illegal drugs – noting that possessing Class As can lead to the death penalty.