Advocacy group criticising S'pore's anti-vape laws linked to tobacco firm: Shanmugam

Group is peddling 'snake oil' to push use of e-smoking devices: Minister

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

An advocacy group claiming Singapore's tough stance on vaping is fearmongering is linked to a tobacco company, the Government has said.

Hitting back at critics who claimed enhanced measures introduced in the wake of a spate of etomidate cases would drive vaping underground, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the argument is the same one used by those who push for the legalisation of drugs.

The New Zealand-based Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (Caphra) had said in a statement on Aug 18 that Singapore's anti-vaping policy is regressive and that it "abandons science for fearmongering".

Speaking on Aug 30 on the sidelines of a Chong Pang grassroots event, Mr Shanmugam said: "They (Caphra) say our approach will make the situation worse, by pushing the market underground.

"These are the same old, tired arguments - which have been used all along to push for legalising drugs. They are usually made by companies which profit from legalisation or their proxies.

"We take a tough line on drugs, and has that kept our society safe? Now you have less murders, less serious crime. Thousands of young people saved from drugs."

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, said Caphra's members promote the use of electronic smoking devices such as vapes and heated tobacco products "under the banner of tobacco harm reduction".