Major tourist hotspot loved by Brits hits visitors with £1,000 rule | UK | News
A British tourist visiting a hugely popular travel destination has warned holidaymakers of a costly mistake. Sara Green said that while she was sitting on a beach in Thailand with her husband and children, local police approached them.
Sara says she and her partner were sitting on sun loungers and smoking at the time, unaware that smoking or using cigarettes is illegal and puts you at risk of hefty fines and even imprisonment. The country has the strictest rules against e-cigarettes in the world, and battery-powered devices have been banned in the Southeast Asian nation since 2014.
One TikTok video Describing her “terrible” ordeal, Ms Green said officers confiscated the e-cigarettes and took them to a nearby police station.
The 43-year-old man told Yahoo Lifestyle reports that they first questioned his partner and were going to keep him there overnight before taking him to court, but he managed to talk his way out of the situation.
He said they were ultimately fined 40,000 Thai Baht (about £927) before they were allowed to leave. But Ms Green said police told them “if you get caught again there will be nothing we can do for you”.
The mother urged her British friends to think twice before smoking e-cigarettes in the country.
“If you’re thinking of vaping in Thailand, don’t do it,” he said. “It’s not worth it.” Visitors can be imprisoned for up to five years just for possessing or using one, and possible penalties are even higher if you’re accused of importing them.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns in its travel guide to the country that “smoking in public is illegal and carries a fine of up to 5,000 Thai baht”.
“It is illegal to possess or use any electronic cigarette, e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device in Thailand. Offenses can lead to confiscation, heavy fines (typically 5,000-30,000 Thai bhat), detention and court proceedings.”
“You may be required to stay in Thailand until the case is resolved. There are no exceptions for tourists or personal use,” he adds.
Another thing the FCDO warns Britons about is the country’s zero-tolerance attitude towards the possession of illegal drugs; He points out that possession of Class A can lead to the death penalty.
