Inside Singapore’s war on vapes

Singapore has launched a crackdown on vapes, eight years after banning the product, moving in lockstep with several countries around the world in clamping down on e-cigarettes. The campaign comes as a rising number of teenagers in the country are found to have been using k-pods - vapes that are laced with the drug etomidate, an anaesthetic agent used in hospitals. The new penalties include fines, mandatory rehab, and caning for suppliers of k-pods. Can Singapore succeed in stamping out all types of vape products? Is it able to sustain an all-out effort to crack down on vapers in the country? On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi talks to two BBC journalists based in Singapore, Tessa Wong and Derek Cai, to understand the reason behind the city-state’s recent clampdown on vaping.Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVtRead more about Singapore's vaping crackdown on the BBC here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3387lrz5g4oGet in touch: [email protected]