According to a BBC report on August 28, Singapore has decided to crank up the punishment for vaping, especially the drug-laced kind that’s been making the rounds. The government isn’t joking around—penalties now include heavier fines, longer jail terms, and yes, even good old-fashioned caning. Foreigners, beware: you could get deported too.

1. How tough are the new rules?

Singapore has gone for a “double strike” approach: tough on both regular vapes and the drug-laced ones.

• Ordinary vapers: Just puffing on a “harmless” e-cig can land you with a fine of up to 500 Singapore dollars (£288 / $390) and compulsory rehab. (So much for “it’s just vapor, bro.”)
• Drugged-up vapes (with Etomidate): If you’re caught supplying these, you’re looking at up to 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane. That’s not a typo.
• Foreigners: Expats and tourists don’t get a free pass. You could lose your work or residence permit, be kicked out, and even banned from coming back. Changi Airport will now greet visitors with clear signs, warning them about the vape ban, plus handy “disposal boxes” where you can ditch your e-cigarette before the cane finds you.

The law kicks in on September 1 and will run for six months while the government drafts more permanent anti-vape measures.

2. Why the sudden crackdown? Meet the “Kpods”

Singapore banned e-cigarettes way back in 2018 (pioneer move!), but the habit never really died. In fact, things got worse recently thanks to a trendy new product: “Kpods.”

“Kpods” (short for ketamine pods) are vapes spiked with Etomidate, a drug with ketamine-like effects. Officials admit these have exploded in popularity. In July, one-third of 100 confiscated e-cigarettes tested positive for the drug.

Meanwhile, videos of teens casually vaping in public have gone viral, sparking a wave of local outrage. Singaporeans are famously tough on drugs, so public opinion is firmly behind the crackdown. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung summed it up bluntly: “E-cigarettes have become a gateway to serious drug abuse. These devices are basically drug delivery systems.”

3. Not just punishment – Singapore rolls out prevention too

Singapore isn’t just wielding the stick (literally). It’s also rolling out education and enforcement in a three-pronged attack:

• Public health ads: Government posters now plaster buses, trains, and public spaces, all screaming the same message—drop the vape.
• Community & schools: Vape disposal boxes are popping up in clubs and universities, while schools run anti-vaping health programs.
• More patrols: Officers are now checking trains, bus stations, and parks. Bags can be searched on the spot. On top of that, border controls at land checkpoints, airports, and seaports have been tightened—since most e-cigs sneak in from Malaysia and Indonesia.

4. A global anti-vape wave

Singapore isn’t alone in cracking down. Other countries are joining the war on flavored clouds:

• Belgium banned disposable vapes back in January.
• The UK followed in June with its own ban on disposables.
• Australia has been phasing out e-cigs since 2023, banning both over-the-counter and single-use types.

Looks like the world is slowly closing in on vapers everywhere.

In short: light up a vape in Singapore, and you might just trade your puff for a prison cell, a hefty fine, or a very sore backside.