Govt's focus is safety & health of S'poreans, pro-vape faction's focus is money: Shanmugam

By taking a strong stance against vaping, the Singapore government is focusing on the "safety, security, and health of Singaporeans".

In contrast, proponents of vapes have their own interests at heart, said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Aug. 30.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Chong Pang event, the Nee Soon Member of Parliament (MP) addressed a recent statement by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

The organisation criticised Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement that Singapore would move to treat vaping as a drug issue, calling it a "backward step" that "abandons science for fearmongering".

Money, money, money

In its statement, CAPHRA argued that the government crackdown on vapes will "deny adult smokers access to proven harm reduction tools".

"Singapore's approach will ensure more dangerous products flood the black market whilst denying smokers life-saving alternatives," said Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of CAPHRA.

But Shanmugam called it "snake oil".

The group promotes traditional cigarette alternatives — e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products — in the name of tobacco harm reduction, he said.

But he pointed out that vapes deliver four packets of cigarettes' worth of nicotine, and can be laced with substances like etomidate.

"Can you actually say that it's good for you?" he asked rhetorically.

He added that Loucas is a frequent speaker at the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF).

The event is described online as the world's leading annual conference discussing the future of the tobacco and nicotine industries.

It is also, Shanmugam added, backed by major tobacco companies like Philip Morris and British American Tobacco.

"So my conclusion is they are proxies, essentially paid mouthpieces for the tobacco industry, which is hoping to push nicotine through vapes. And they don't really care if other stuff gets pushed through vapes too," he said.

"If you stop vapes, their business gets affected. So you can see why they will support vapes, it means money, a lot of money."

On its website, CAPHRA describes itself as a grassroots organisation that advocates for alternative nicotine products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

Government crackdown

On Aug. 28, the government announced a slew of new measures targeting vapes and etomidate-laced vapes, known as Kpods.

From Sep. 1, individuals caught in possession of vapes will face stronger penalties.

Etomidate will also be classified a Class C controlled drug from the same date for an interim six months.

This means that abusers and suppliers will face harsher penalties under Singapore's famously strict drug laws, including jail and caning for suppliers.

Foreigners who visit or live in Singapore will also face deportation, the panel said.

Top image from Khine Zin Htet