Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is undertaking action to regulate the import and sale of liquid nicotine products, which are at present gaining popularity amongst Thai celebrities and teens. Part of these products’ appeal is their ability to slip beneath Thailand’s significant, tobacco regulation dragnet.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently monitor liquid nicotine, which is sold in the form of shisha sticks and known locally as “baraku.” The Public Health Ministry has asked the FDA to begin monitoring the flow of shisha into the Thai market, and to start cracking down on online purveyors of the substance.
In its write up of the Ministry’s efforts, the Nation mentions that “it is believed the fancy cigarettes have several addictive substances.”
Uh, yeah…like nicotine?
Photo: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul / AFP
