206 S'pore students caught vaping in 1st quarter of 2026

In the first three months of 2026, a total of 2,589 individuals in Singapore, including 206 students, were caught and penalised for vaping offences.

In a joint press release on May 4, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said that from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2026, around 2,212 individuals (85 per cent) were caught for regular vaporiser offences, while the remaining 377 persons were etomidate vaporiser offenders.

More than 270 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling.

MOH and HSA said that educative and enforcement actions were enhanced on Sep. 1, 2025.

MOH and HSA added that 13 sellers and 11 smugglers were prosecuted under the enhanced framework against vaping, and more than 36,000 vaporisers and related components were seized from the checkpoints.

Stricter disciplinary measures in schools

The press statement acknowledged continued and amplified public awareness and enforcement efforts on the harmful effects of vaping in Ministry of Education (MOE) schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).

Curriculum subjects such as Science and Physical Education, and outreach talks in IHLs are reinforced by peer-led initiatives and Health Promotion Board (HPB) publicity materials.

Stricter disciplinary measures implemented in MOE schools against vaping include detention, caning (for boys), and conduct grade adjustments.

For IHLs, this includes eviction from hostels, withdrawal of privileges such as leadership opportunities and overseas exchanges, and community service orders or fines.

MOH and HSA said: "Recalcitrant offenders may be suspended or expelled."

"Beyond disciplinary measures, schools and IHLs focus on guiding students to understand why their behaviour is wrong and help them take ownership of the problem."

Rehabilitation

In the press statement, MOH and HSA said that enforcement actions were enhanced on Sep. 1, 2025, with the framework introducing mandatory rehabilitation for first-time etomidate vaporiser offenders and second-time offenders of vaporisers.

This was to give offenders a chance to quit their habits with professional support.

An additional 256 offenders were placed on rehabilitation programmes in the first quarter of 2026, bringing the total number of offenders onboarded onto rehabilitation to 520.

123 have completed rehabilitation, while enforcement action will be taken against defaulters.

MOH and HSA added that 28 defaulters are undergoing court proceedings, with ongoing investigations for another 42.

Cases of individuals who have quit vaping after the rehabilitation programme include a 12-year-old girl caught vaping twice, and a 17-year-old male caught vaping etomidate, both of whom have better school attendance records since.

MOH and HSA said, "Rehabilitation is not a linear process, and MOE seeks to support students in their journey to quit vaping."

Enforcement

From Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, HSA identified and fined 10 persons who posted vaping-related photos and videos of themselves on social media.

HSA also said they worked with e-commerce and social media platforms to remove more than 600 online listings of e-vaporisers and related components.

Four persons were also charged in court, pending sentencing for the alleged trafficking of etomidate vaporisers.

Another 13 individuals were prosecuted for the sale of vaporisers.

Enhanced cessation support

In the press release, MOH and HSA said that HPB, along with MOE, have embarked on a virtual cessation counselling pilot for all secondary schools from March 2026.

Parents can refer to information on Parent Hub to educate and support their children on the harms of vaping, or call HPB’s QuitLine at 1800 438 2000 to find out more about HPB’s smoking and vaping cessation programmes.

Admissions of consumption of such products shared during HPB’s cessation programmes will be kept confidential and will not be reported to other authorities.

Members of the public can continue to voluntarily dispose of vaporisers safely at designated disposal bins placed at selected locations, including border checkpoints and where QuitVape programmes and rehabilitation are provided.

Members of the public can also contact HSA to support enforcement efforts through their online reporting form linked here or by calling 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 from 7am to 12am, operational daily, including weekends and public holidays.

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