Singapore’s I Quit vaping support carries no penalty, but use still fines up to S$10,000

Adults in Singapore who vape can join the Health Promotion Board’s I Quit programme free of charge, and the board says those who come forward voluntarily receive no penalty or offence record. Vaping remains illegal in the country, with fines of up to S$10,000 for using or possessing a vape.

The programme is open to people aged 18 and above who want to stop smoking or vaping. Participants choose between daily SMS tips and telephone counselling, with follow-up contact running for up to a year, according to the board’s account.

The amnesty covers joining the programme, not vaping outside it

I Quit counsellors keep what participants discuss confidential, tele-counsellor Sandhieyaa Rave Chadran said. That confidentiality does not shield a participant from the legal consequences of vaping outside the programme, the board states.

Repeat offenders face tougher consequences than a fine, including mandatory rehabilitation. The S$10,000 maximum applies to using or possessing a vape.

One former vaper’s route took more than two years

Jereld Pan, a 30-year-old game development tester, switched from cigarettes to vaping about five years ago after hearing it described as a cleaner alternative, and stayed dependent on nicotine. His coughing as a smoker continued, sometimes leaving him feeling like vomiting.

Pan vaped for more than two years and made repeated attempts to stop over more than six months before quitting. He said he had known little about cessation programmes at the time and did not realise he could ask for help without an offence record.

Withdrawal was hardest two or three days after he stopped, which he described as a gnawing feeling at the back of his head and an itchy mouth. He eventually discarded the vapes and pods he had kept for emergencies, and filled his time with gaming, boxing and Muay Thai.

Counsellors treat a lapse as information, not failure

A first session covers the person’s vaping habits, cravings, triggers, reasons for quitting and readiness to stop. The counsellor then sets out the options and agrees next steps with the participant.

Chadran said nicotine dependence, routines and emotional triggers make quitting more than a test of willpower. Where stress drives the habit, counsellors suggest alternatives such as going for a walk; where offered a vape, participants can prepare a refusal or avoid situations where others vape.

If someone starts vaping again, the counsellor reviews what triggered the lapse and adjusts the plan rather than closing the case. Chadran said people do not need to be fully ready before making contact.

Retailers and distributors see demand shift rather than disappear

Singapore’s prohibition has already removed legal retail demand for vaping products in the country, so the programme changes how remaining users behave rather than what shops can stock. Businesses trading in the region should expect continued enforcement against possession, including at borders and in public places, and no compliant domestic sales channel while the ban stands. VapeBrief’s analysis is that cessation messaging of this kind reduces the pool of existing users without creating any legal route to serve them.

What comes next

Singapore’s law on vaping is unchanged and in force, with the S$10,000 maximum fine and mandatory rehabilitation for repeat offenders. People who vape and want to stop can reach the I Quit programme or QuitLine at 1800 438 2000; the board states that those who come forward voluntarily face no penalty.

Questions readers ask

Can someone in Singapore get help to stop vaping without being fined?

The Health Promotion Board states that people who voluntarily seek help through its I Quit programme will not face penalties or receive an offence record for coming forward. The counselling itself is confidential, but that confidentiality does not exempt participants from the legal consequences of vaping outside the programme.

What is the penalty for vaping in Singapore?

Using or possessing a vape can carry a fine of up to S$10,000, and repeat offenders face tougher consequences, including mandatory rehabilitation, according to the board.