The discourse on banning vapes, voiced by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), has sparked various reactions among e-cigarette users.

Some vapers have expressed criticism and questioned the urgency of such a policy, especially if the reason given is that vapes are often misused as a medium for delivering narcotic substances.

Public Reaction to the BNN's Vape Ban Issue

On social media, a number of sarcastic comments have appeared. One of them came from the account @idabsw, who commented on the Instagram @vapeindo_official account. He questioned the logic of the ban by stating, "If tobacco is sprayed with gorilla fluid (drugs), will the tobacco then be banned? This feels odd."

This view reflects the concern of some users that not all vape products are inherently linked to narcotics. They believe that misuse by a few individuals should not automatically be the basis for suppressing the entire industry.

On the other hand, questions have also arisen regarding the excise duty policy on e-liquids that the government has implemented so far. If products have been regulated and officially taxed, the public questions the consistency of policy direction if a total ban is simultaneously being discussed.

This debate has also expanded into a broader discourse on whether policy focus should be directed at cracking down on drug trafficking and its perpetrators, rather than on legal and regulated products.

Has the Vape Ban Discussion Been Around for a Long Time?

The discourse on banning vapes is not a new issue. In recent years, restrictions on e-cigarettes have frequently appeared in public discourse, although the direction of the policy is still considered unclear.

The Head of the BNN Narcotics Laboratory Center, Supianto, stated that several Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, and Thailand have already implemented bans or strict restrictions on vapes.

"So we indeed recommend that vapes ultimately be banned like in other countries. Vapes without drugs and with drugs are equally dangerous," said Supianto at the BNN Office, Wednesday (18/2/2026).

He added that Singapore categorizes vape consumption within the framework of certain legal violations, while Thailand and the Maldives prohibit their import and sale. Malaysia is also said to be moving towards a comprehensive ban policy.

Baca Juga: Regulasi Vape 2026, Gimana Nasib Industri Vape di Indonesia 

Is There Conventional Cigarette Intervention?

In Indonesia, data from the Ministry of Health and WHO indicate a tenfold increase in e-cigarette users in recent years. This significant rise has immediately triggered various speculations in the public sphere.

From there, the public began to wonder: is the conventional cigarette industry starting to get "nervous" seeing the rapid growth of vape users? Many also suspect the potential for business competition and economic interests behind the developing regulatory polemic.

Some users claim to have switched to vapes as an effort to reduce their consumption of tobacco-based cigarettes that involve combustion and produce tar. The continuously increasing price of conventional cigarettes is also cited as a reason for this switch.

Amidst this debate, there is a view that the government should prioritize combating illegal cigarettes, which clearly harm the state, rather than directly pressuring the vape industry, which is currently legal and subject to excise duties.

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Sumber: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2026/02/19/22550291/bnn-ingin-vape-dilarang-pengguna-harusnya-berantas-liquid-narkoba-bukan?page=2.