Young Thai vapers spend an average of 26,994 baht annually, or 2,245 baht monthly, primarily funded by allowances given to them by their parents, according to a recent survey.
A coalition of youth empowerment and health advocacy groups is encouraging these young individuals to redirect their vaping expenses into savings and investments, potentially yielding around 1.87 million baht each over the next 30 years.
Phatcharaphan Prachuaplap, secretary-general of the Thailand Youth Institute (TYI), expressed his shock at the survey results, especially in the context of many families struggling financially in the current economic climate.
“While most low- and middle-income earners, including the parents of these vaping teens, face rising living costs, their children are squandering their allowances on this health risk,” he stated.
The survey, conducted by Siam University, gathered data from 400 respondents aged 13 to 24 who regularly vape, inquiring about their expenses and sources of funding.
The results revealed that 87.75% of young vapers primarily relied on parental living allowances, with over half (54.50%) of their allowance spent on vaping.
“If these individuals were to invest that 2,245 baht monthly in an investment program suggested by the Bank of Thailand, which offers a 5% interest rate, they could earn approximately 1.07 million baht in profit from a total accumulated capital of 808,200 baht over 30 years,” Mr. Phatcharaphan explained.
He encourages young people to consider making an investment plan their New Year’s resolution.
A public initiative called “Happy New Life,” launched in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and various partners, promotes this concept.
Phloychanok Saen-athit, a Communication Arts lecturer at Siam University and the survey’s lead researcher, highlighted concerns about social media influencers who glamorize vaping, as well as its portrayal in popular television shows.
Despite e-cigarettes being classified as illegal products in Thailand, the percentage of young vapers has surged 5.3 times, increasing from 3.3% in 2019 to 17.6% in 2022, according to ThaiHealth.
