Letter to Editor
I SUPPORT public health. I support protecting our young people from addiction. But the recent push by some states to stop issuing vape licences, while well-intentioned, may end up doing more harm than good.
Let’s be honest. People are still vaping. Banning vape sales won’t make the habit disappear. It just pushes the whole thing underground.
Johor has had a ban for years. Has it stopped people from vaping? No. It only made legal sellers close shop while illegal ones took over. These backdoor sellers don’t follow any rules. They don’t care about age limits, proper labelling, or safe ingredients. That’s even more dangerous for our kids.
If you ban something but don’t stop the demand, you create a black market. We’ve seen this happen before with cigarettes. Malaysia is already notorious for its high rates of illicit cigarette use in the world. Are we going to repeat the same mistake with vapes?
What’s worse, these unregulated products can be harmful. Some are mixed with cheap or toxic chemicals. If someone falls sick or worse, there’s no one to hold responsible. No manufacturer. No quality control. No protection.
Also, banning vapes sends mixed signals. Cigarettes are still openly sold, taxed, and regulated. So why crack down only on vapes, which many adults use as a way to quit smoking, such as using heated tobacco? Shouldn’t we be guiding smokers toward safer alternatives, not making it harder?
Enforcement will also be a nightmare. If one state bans it and another doesn’t, people will just drive across borders or buy online. How will state officials stop this? And won’t this confuse consumers and traders alike?
Let’s not forget tax revenue. Vape liquids are now taxed by the federal government. That money could go into health campaigns, education, or better enforcement. By shutting down the legal market, we lose that income—and still end up with people vaping!
There’s already a federal law in place: the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act. If there are concerns, improve that law. Don’t bypass it by taking patchwork actions at state level.
We need one clear, consistent policy. One that protects young people, guides adult smokers, and tackles illegal trade head-on. Blanket bans won’t get us there. Regulation and strong enforcement will.
Again, I support public health. But let’s be smart about how we get there. Don’t push vape users underground. It’s the country which will lose out. – May 8, 2025
Liu Hai Kuok
Johor Bahru
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: SCMP
