A 26-year-old online influencer in Singapore was fined S$3,500 [1] for advertising vaping devices for sale on her personal Telegram account.
The case highlights the strict enforcement of tobacco product promotion laws in Singapore, where the possession and sale of vapes are illegal regardless of the seller's social media reach.
Eunice Joy Ng used her digital platform to offer the devices to others. According to court records, Ng purchased the vapes for $13 each [1]. She subsequently sold two of those devices for $15 each [1].
Despite the small profit margin on the individual sales, the legal consequences were substantial. The fine of S$3,500 [1], which is approximately RM18,882 [2], was imposed on May 29, 2024 [2].
Singaporean authorities maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the promotion of vapes. The use of encrypted messaging apps like Telegram does not exempt users from these regulations, as the act of advertising the products remains a breach of national law [1], [2].
“A 26-year-old online influencer in Singapore was fined S$3,500 for advertising vaping devices.”
This ruling reinforces the Singaporean government's commitment to curbing the rise of vaping through aggressive financial penalties. By targeting influencers, authorities are signaling that the visibility provided by social media platforms increases the risk of prosecution, as these accounts can potentially expose illegal products to a wider, younger audience.
