Business Enquiries: https://www.business.thebluecats.com.sg/ The Blue Cats' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/singaporethebluecats/ From 1 September 2025, Singapore will introduce stricter regulations against vaping and kpods, announced by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, and Education Minister Desmond Lee. For vaping, fines will increase: first-time offenders under 18 will be fined $500, while those 18 and above will face $700. Repeat offenders face rehabilitation programs and, by the third offence, court charges with fines up to $2,000. The government is making it clear that repeat vaping won’t just cost money, but could also lead to serious legal consequences. For kpods, the penalties are even harsher because of their drug-like effects. First-time offenders face the same $500/$700 fines and up to six months of rehabilitation. A second offence leads to mandatory supervision and drug testing, while a third offence can land people 16 and above in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Those below 16 will face a year of mandatory supervision instead. This reflects the authorities’ concern, especially since 80% of kpod users are under 30, making rehabilitation an important step in steering youths away from addiction. A major change is that etomidate, the substance found in kpods, will be reclassified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Previously, misuse of etomidate was covered under the Poisons Act, with relatively lighter penalties. From September, anyone caught importing, selling, or distributing kpods faces up to 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane. While there’s no death penalty since it’s Class C, the message is clear: Singapore views kpods as part of its tough anti-drug stance, and enforcement will be much stricter. Beyond the law, there are also consequences in schools, workplaces, and for foreigners. Students risk suspension, caning, or expulsion, while public servants may face demotion, dismissal, or fines. Foreigners on work or student passes risk deportation and even bans from entering Singapore again if caught using kpods. All in all, Singapore’s stand is simple: stop vaping now, or risk fines, rehabilitation, and long-term consequences that extend far beyond legal punishment.