BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Since 2014, Thailand has implemented banning policy on electronic cigarettes' importation, selling, and distribution. During the last few years, Thai parliament has appointed committees to study pros and cons of banning of electronic cigarettes. Tobacco control advocates in Thailand have not been actively working with politicians, even though knowing full well that trans-national tobacco industry and its allies are actively approaching policymakers to influence policy making process. Trans-national tobacco industry and its networks always lie to the public, deceive authorities, and undermine scientific evidences.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: As an advisor to the parliament's committee to study about the impact on banning of electronic cigarettes, the authors take this opportunity to provide the chairman with evidence-based documents on a weekly meetings. This helps in countering misinformation by the tobacco industry cronies, but it is not enough. On several occasions, collaboration with representatives from youth groups, Parents and Teachers Association, Health Professional Alliance for Smoke-free Thailand, Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TRC), Action on Smoking or Health (ASH Thailand), and academic groups, are necessary. A rally to collect 1 million signatures supporting the e-cig ban policy was organized and presented to the leaders of political parties.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: On the National Children Day in 2024, the Thai Prime Minister met and accepted the request from the Medical Students Association's representatives, and youth groups, at the Government House, to maintain the e-cig ban policy. A few days after that, the prime minister issued an executive order for the related government ministries and agencies, to strictly and collaboratively implemented the e-cig ban measures.
CONCLUSIONS: Many politicians are willing to accept facts about e-cigarette from researchers, academicians, and health professionals, if health advocates are actively working with them to provide the facts on harmful health effects of tobacco and innovative nicotine products.