Smoking in Thailand - The Essential Smoker's Guide

Everyone is aware of how deadly passive smoking is, so the Government of Thailand is actively working towards curbing smoking in Thailand. Recently, stringent laws have been introduced to prohibit smoking in certain areas, and smokers visiting Thailand should be well aware of these laws.

Thai Smoking Stats
Smoking is something that is discouraged by all, owing to its ill effects on one’s health as well as the health of bystanders. According to reports, 46.9% of the adult population in Thailand is exposed to passive smoking in restaurants, 30.5% at the workplace, and 25.6% are exposed to passive smoking in other public areas.

Smoking Laws
Although smoking is allowed in Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has stringent rules and regulations about smoking in public. Since 3rd February 2019, the level of these rules has been upped. Failing to abide by the rules might lead to hefty fines and years of imprisonment.

Key Pointers of Thailand Tobacco Control Law

1. Smoking in not allowed in public buildings or public areas except for open-air areas.
2. There is a 5 meters exclusion zone around the entrances and exit areas of all significant public spaces.
3. Smoking in restaurants, bars, and pubs is also not allowed. However, some places do have designated areas for smoking.
4. Smoking is banned on 24 beaches in Thailand on account of the harmful effects of cigarette butts on the environment.
5. Smoking is not allowed in Thai Airports. In some airports, designated smoking rooms have also been banned.
6. There are certain permissible limits for tourists planning to bring cigarettes into the country.
7. E-cigarettes are strictly banned in Thailand.
8. No-Smoking signboards have been made more prominent for people to be more aware of where they cannot smoke.

No-Smoking Zones in Thailand

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Drug stores
• Bars
• Restaurants
• Health and massage parlors
• Learning centres
• Nurseries
• Libraries
• Homes for the elderly
• Government organization offices
• Meeting areas like restaurants
• Shopping malls
• Religious places
• Fitness centres including parks, swimming pools and gymnasiums
• Grocery shops
• Laundry shops
• Games stores
• ATMs and banks
• Theatres
• Zoos
• Amusement parks and water parks
• Parking lots
• Public toilets
• Bus stops
• Taxi stands
• Piers
• Hotels and Condos
• Airport

Smoking Ban on Thai Beaches

Most of the beaches you visit in Thailand will have ‘No Smoking’ signboards at almost every corner. This is done to make people aware of the law which came into force on the 1st of February 2018, according to which smoking on the beach is illegal. If you’re found doing so, you will be fined up to THB 100,000 or one year of imprisonment, or in some cases, both. This law was introduced to avoid environmental affliction caused by the burial of cigarette butts in the sand by smokers because, according to reports, cigarette butts comprise around one-third of the total litter on the beaches.

24 Beaches with Strict Prohibitions

If you want to smoke, there are designated areas away from the beach. The Litter Police keep an eye on these beaches at all times. Do not smoke in the ‘No Smoking’ area or bury butts anywhere on the sand to avoid punishment.

Pro tip:
Litter Police scams are very common in Thailand. Litter Police is actually a division of the Thai Municipality, where the officers look for illegal posters and penalize people who litter in public places. If you are caught and asked to pay a heavy fine, and threatened to be arrested if you do not pay, call the tourist police helpline immediately, because this is a scam. They do not have any right to get you arrested.
Tourist Police Helpline number:  1155

Vaping and E-Cigarettes are Illegal in Thailand

Using e-cigarettes for vaping or smoking in Thailand is an offense. People found guilty can be charged with a hefty fine or sometimes can even face years of imprisonment. The rules are the same for tourists as well as locals. There have been instances where tourists unaware of the ban carried e-cigarettes and were charged a hefty fine, several times of the actual price of the e-cigarette. So if you travel to Thailand, never carry e-cigarettes because if you are convicted, you can be detained and fined heavily.

Smoking at Airports in Thailand is Prohibited

All airports have separate smoking rooms, and airports in Thailand did too. But recently, abiding by the Smoking laws, The Airports of Thailand (AoT) have shut the smoking rooms in some airports. The airports which no longer have smoking rooms are:

• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
• Bangkok Don Mueang
• Chiang Mai
• Chiang Rai
• Hat Yai
• Phuket

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport out of the six is the only airport where smoking is allowed inside the airport in a separate zone. The AoT previously announced that they would be setting up smoking areas outside the terminals, but no such areas have been designated yet. So, before lighting up a cigarette anywhere in the Airport, have a good look at the signs to avoid unnecessary legal hassles.

Penalty for Public Smoking in Thailand

For smoking in public areas such as government organization buildings, office buildings, and shopping malls, you can be charged a fine of around THB 2000 or more. For beaches, you can be fined as high as THB 100,000 or/and a year of imprisonment. Since one-third of the beach litter accounts for cigarette butts, the ministry has come up with such stringent laws.

Smoker Tips Before Entering Thailand

1. The legal age for smoking in Thailand is 20 years. Initially, it was 18 years, but recently, it was increased to 20 years. So, if you are below the age of 20, you can neither get cigarettes into the country nor buy cigarettes for smoking in Thailand.
2. You can legally bring in 200 cigarettes at a time when you enter the country without paying customs duties. If you are found carrying more than 200 cigarettes, you can be fined heavily.
3. If you smoke tobacco, you can bring in 500 grams at a time per person.
4. Most supermarkets, like Family Mart and 7-Eleven, sell cigarettes. The most expensive cigarettes in Thailand (Parliament) can cost you around THB 200 per pack, and the cheaper varieties (like L&M) can cost you around THB 89.
5. You can also get cigarettes in the Airport Duty-free shops, but the prices are usually several times higher than what you get in the supermarkets in Thailand. The average price is around THB 700 for 200 cigarettes.

Smoking is a chronic consumption, and while smokers know the ill effects, it takes time to eliminate this habit. So, despite the attempts of the Government of Thailand, complete eradication of smoking will take some time. If you happen to be a smoker, thinking of visiting Thailand, do make sure that you have comprehensive knowledge about the smoking rules in Thailand to avoid unnecessary legal hassles.