In September 2018, the government announced that there would be a smoking ban for all open-air eateries starting 2019. Ever since the announcement, people who smoke vape and shisha wondered if they would be allowed in the eateries.
To answer that question, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said that vapes containing nicotine will be subjected to the ban because they are considered illegal. However, he mentioned there was no law against vapes that do not contain nicotine.
That being said, recently, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that the ban will not apply to vape (vaporised liquid nicotine) and shisha. Nevertheless, Dr Dzulkefly didn’t explicitly explain if the ban included vape and shisha with nicotine content.
Source: The Malay Mail
So, to clear everyone’s doubts once and for all, NST reported today (22 November 2018) that vape and shisha containing nicotine WILL be included in the ban.
According to him, the smoking ban, which was implemented under Regulation 11 of the Control of Tobacco Products (PPKHT) 2004, decreed that all cigarettes and tobacco products containing nicotine are prohibited. Therefore, the regulation also includes shisha and vape containing nicotine.
Source: The Star
He was quoted as saying,
“The rule is clear, those with nicotine contents are subject (to the prohibition), in other words when we do our enforcement we will see whether vape or shisha has nicotine or not.”
“If we find no nicotine, it will not be included in the ban.”
Source: Informationng
In short, only products that contain nicotine are banned while products which don’t have nicotine content are not included in the ban. Well, it’s great that the health minister cleared that doubt once and for all!
What do you think of the ban on nicotine products? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Also read: All Open-Air Eateries Will Officially Be No-Smoking Zones Starting 2019, MOH Confirms
