The Health Ministry is studying the legal aspects of taxing nicotine-based e-cigarettes and vapourisers.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said this today in response to allegations on social media that the crackdown on vaping was because the government could not collect taxes for it.

"Legally, we have the authority to treat e-cigarettes just like regular cigarettes.

"This means if cigarettes are charged excise duties, then so, too, can e-cigarettes," Subramaniam told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Subramaniam said he believes vaping is an unhealthy practice that could threaten public health years down the road.

He added that even those who do not smoke are now taking up vaping.

The health minister previously announced the government would be cracking down on businesses that sell nicotine-based vaping liquids because nicotine was a controlled substance that requires a permit to sell.

He confirmed there had been raids on vaping outlets but will only be able to provide figures in a few weeks.

Asked why the ministry was not allowing vape business owners a chance to transition into legally approved businesses, Subramaniam said that would be the subsequent step.

Shisha, too

Meanwhile, Subramaniam said the Health Ministry is also looking to clamp down on shisha.

"We are looking at how to deal with it (shisha). We want to deal with it altogether, so we will go step by step," he said.

Shisha is a syrupy tobacco mix containing molasses and vegetable glycerol which is smoked through a hookah.