Taking your vejp on holiday can seem as obvious as packing your sun cream. But here and there in the world, it now means: go straight to jail without passing go.
An increasing number of countries have introduced total bans on vejp, while penalties for possession have been increased. For travellers unfamiliar with the laws, the consequences can be both unexpected and severe.
In many countries, vejp is banned outright - that is, its sale, use and possession. Thailand is a well-known example. There, tourists have been arrested for having vejp in their luggage, and the legislation allows for prison sentences of up to five years for serious or repeated offences
Singapore has an almost brutally hard-line stance, and the small republic's move to ban e-cigarettes has been something of a serial here in Vejpkollen. The country has long had a total ban, and both importation and use can lead to imprisonment. The authorities have also taken a tougher line on so-called “drugsvejpar” (containing anything other than nicotine) where the penalties can be even harsher. The penalty scale includes caning and death.
Also India has chosen a strict path. There, a national ban on e-cigarettes was introduced, and offences can lead to imprisonment on the first occasion. However, the picture is somewhat murkier there. Vapes are sold all over the place, and as Vejpkollen wrote about a year ago, most people don't even seem to know there's a ban. However - a ban is a ban, so it may be foolish to take a chance if you are going there as a tourist.
Popular destinations - with risks
It is not only in strictly governed states that the rules are tough. Several popular tourist destinations have introduced or tightened their laws in recent years.
Mexico has moved from restrictions to a more comprehensive ban. Bringing vejp into the country can now be classified as a criminal offence with a prison sentence. The situation there is also somewhat similar to India - many vejps are still being brought in, despite a ban on paper.
In other parts of Asia, regulations are complex and stringent. In Japan, nicotine liquids are heavily regulated, and improper import or handling can lead to legal penalties in some cases. Hong Kong the trend is towards a total ban on use as well, with the risk of both fines and imprisonment.
A global development
Over time, the trend is clear. More and more countries are choosing to criminalise vejp rather than regulate them. This is often motivated by concerns about youth use or links to illicit substances. More often than not, the result is a burgeoning black market.
At the same time, the strategies are very different. In the EU it is mainly about regulations - such as flavour bans or restrictions on disposable vejps. In other parts of the world, the tone is much harsher.
Countries where vejp can actually cause imprisonment
Unilad magazine recently listed ten popular destinations where vejp can result in harsh penalties, including imprisonment.
However, the list confuses outright bans with regular regulation - and in many cases these are fines or restrictions rather than actual prison sentences. Countries such as Turkey, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates, for example, have rules or restrictions, but not the kind of penalties the article suggests.
(Unilad magazine has frequently published content with suspected sponsorship from different interest groups within the the anti-nicotine pipe, so the content should always be scrutinised. Editor's note.)
Vejpkollen has therefore refined that list to countries where vejp actually can lead to the finca - and it looks like this:
Thailand
Singapore
India
Hong Kong
Mexico
As mentioned, the laws in India and Mexico may exist on paper, but formally, imprisonment is on the penalty scale. At the same time, there are other countries that often appear in international lists, but where the legislation is more varied or where the risk of imprisonment is much lower in practice.
This includes Qatar, among others, Philippines, Vietnam and Australia, where rules can be strict and in some cases lead to fines, seizure or other legal consequences - but where common tourist use is rarely linked to imprisonment in the same way as in the countries above. Egypt, which previously had a ban, has now legalised vejp.
For Swedish travellers, the conclusion is simple but important. It simply takes an eagle eye for local rules to avoid problems - even in countries where vejp is openly available, legislation can be more complex than it first appears.
Sources:
10 destinations where vaping can now land you up to 10 years in jail
Four in Singapore risk death penalty - smuggled vapes with cocaine - Vejpkollen.se
Weaving thrives India - ”Many don't know it's banned” - Vejpkollen.se
Prohibitions on paper - millions of vejps still in Mexico - Vejpkollen.se
Singapore to impose harsher penalties on drug-laced vapes from September | Reuters
