Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) will impose strict measures, such as searches of personal belongings, to crack down on vapes in schools following a "surge" in the number of students using them.
E-cigarette liquid bottles of various flavours are seen at a store in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo:bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) 🏅– Thailand’s Officeof the Basic Education Commission (Obec) will impose strict measures, such assearches of personal belongings, to crack down on vapes in schools following a"surge" in the number of students using them.
Thee Pawangkanan, deputy secretary-general of Obec, said thegovernment is concerned that students aged 13–15 are increasingly usinge-cigarettes. There have also been cases of vape use among first gradersaged between six and seven - the youngestsmokers.
According to Pawangkanan, vapes aremade to look like cartoon character figures and they smell fruity, which couldmislead parents, teachers, and students into thinking they are safe to consume.Meanwhile, health records have shown that vapes can severely damage the lungs.
The official stressed that Obec is highly concerned and willask for the parents' help in looking into the matter.
ꦓ One of the measures Obec is looking to employ is searches ofstudents' bags before they enter classrooms to screen for illegal andinappropriate objects, including e-cigarettes.
Pawangkanan said the measures will be imposed at schools starting onMay 15, the first day of the new term, to prevent dangerous and illegal goodsin products.
🔜 Thailand’s Customs Department onApril 7 arrested a total of 211 smugglers ofcigarettes and vapes worth 34.11 million THB (930,000 USD) in total into thecountry between March 1 and April 5./.
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E-cigarette liquid bottles of various flavours are seen at a store in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo:bangkokpost.com) 
