Authorities look to intervene earlier as tougher anti-vaping laws near implementation

Singapore is looking to move faster against young repeat vape offenders, with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung warning that a small but troubling group of youths is continuing to vape despite repeated enforcement and rehabilitation efforts.

Authorities Are Watching Repeat Youth Offenders Closely
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on April 12 that authorities are paying close attention to a group of young “recalcitrant” vape users, some of whom have been caught three times even while undergoing rehabilitation. He said the concern is that repeated use at a young age could lead to addiction and long-term harm if not dealt with more decisively.

Current Measures Already Escalate With Each Offence
Ong outlined how enforcement currently works for those caught using vapes laced with etomidate. First-time offenders are fined and sent for rehabilitation. Second-time offenders face drug testing, rehabilitation, and six months of mandatory supervision. Those caught a third time can be sent to a drug rehabilitation centre, while offenders under 16 are instead placed on mandatory community supervision for a year.

Government Wants to Step In Earlier
Despite those steps, Ong said the authorities are now studying how to escalate action faster, including identifying potential repeat offenders from their very first offence. He said earlier detection and firmer intervention could help stop the problem before it grows, especially for young users who may already be slipping into repeated use.

Tougher Laws Take Effect on May 1
The comments come just weeks before the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act takes effect on May 1. Under the new law, vape users can be fined up to S$10,000, up from the current maximum of S$2,000. Sellers can face fines of up to S$200,000 and six years in jail, while smugglers can be fined up to S$300,000 and jailed for up to nine years.

Kpods Remain a Major Public Health Concern
Singapore intensified its crackdown in 2025 after reports of Kpods, vapes laced with etomidate, led to alarming public behavior and health episodes. Since etomidate was temporarily listed as a Class C drug on Sept. 1, 2025, more than 5,000 people have been caught for vaping offences. As of Feb. 28, 593 were Kpod users, and 42 people placed on rehabilitation had defaulted. Ong said, however, that most young people caught were first-time users influenced by curiosity or peer pressure, and that rehabilitation appears to be working for the majority.

Singapore’s next phase of anti-vaping enforcement is showing a shift from broad deterrence toward earlier and more targeted intervention for high-risk youth. For Singaporeans, especially parents and educators, the message is that vaping is now firmly being treated as both a health and addiction issue. For Indonesians watching the region, it also shows how Southeast Asian governments are tightening their response as vaping becomes increasingly linked to controlled substances and youth harm.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)

Keywords: Singapore Vape Laws, Ong Ye Kung, Youth Vaping, Repeat Offenders, Etomidate, Kpods, Rehabilitation