The National Legislative Assembly's readings of the long-awaited tobacco products control bill are planned to start on Friday after recently receiving cabinet approval.
The bill, drafted in 2010 and agreed to by the cabinet on Oct 25, has strong support from anti-smoking campaigners who describe it as an effective tool to prevent new smokers.
Prakit Vathesatogkit, executive secretary of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation Thailand, said the bill should receive serious consideration from the NLA in its first reading on Friday as one of 20 bills being prioritised by the Public Health Ministry.
This follows the government's suggestion that each ministry should improve out-of-date laws to comply with international standards.
The bill was drafted in line with the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Thailand ratified in 2005.
"Over a decade, we have channelled all of our efforts into this bill until the government has come to realise its importance," said Dr Prakit, a noted anti-smoking campaigner.
"We hope that the lawmakers will give it their support to save our young generations."
Dr Prakit said the bill will not severely affect the tobacco industry as companies have claimed.
The bill does not aim to stop existing smokers, but only limit young people's access to cigarettes and other tobacco products.
He added that tobacco farmers will not be affected by the bill, although tobacco processing operators will be.
According to the bill, "tobacco products" include baraku and e-cigarettes, and online purchases would also be banned.
It also extends the age limit for cigarette buyers from 18 to 20 years old, and bans retail shops from opening cigarette packs to sell individually or in smaller numbers -- an act which allows young smokers with limited money to buy cigarettes.
Tobacco firms cannot publish any acts of corporate social responsibility on media, and using attractive women to market their products is banned.
According to the Action on Smoking Foundation, a study found that seven out of 10 teen smokers will smoke their whole life, while the rest take at least 20 years to quit. A 2014 survey found as many as 11.4 million smokers in Thailand, which is 20.7% of the population.
Supreda Adulyanon, chief executive of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said he is confident that the NLA will pass the bill.
The number of young smokers is expected to decrease once the bill is implemented, he said. The bill was written based on reviewing successful cases in many countries.