SINGAPORE : Smoking could be banned in more places in
Singapore.
Giving notice to diehard smokers was the Environment and Water
Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim who told Parliament that the
National Environment Agency is studying if bus stops, coffee shops
and hawkers centres should be covered by the ban.
It is rather expensive to have a puff in Singapore, with taxes on
cigarettes, one of the few which constantly go up each Budget
Day.
And with feedback from the public, the National Environment
Ministry is now studying if, besides indoor places where food is
sold and in queues, the ban can be extended to some of the few
outdoor areas which smokers can now smoke without breaking the
law.
The call to ban smoking in pubs and nightspots have become
louder.
MPs who spoke on Wednesday emphasised the need to protect passive
smokers especially the young.
And it's because of public feedback on the issue that the
Environment Ministry is studying if the ban should be expanded and
not just to smoke filled nightspots.
"I think if smokers can be considerate enough not to blow the smoke
in the children's way then you can leave us our space. There is
very little space that we have left compared to other countries,"
said one non-smoker.
"It's a good idea that they ban smoking in the coffeeshop area,
because as a pregnant woman we also patronise this area and the
smoke will harm us," said another.
Cynthia Phua, MP, Aljunied GRC, said: "There are many young
children especially in hawker centres and eating houses...It is
very easy for a passive smoker to become an active smoker."
Minister Yaacob told the House that the NEA will study the issues
carefully and consult both the public and businesses before taking
a decision.
He said: "We do have evidence to show that non-smokers who are
exposed to the smoking environment eventually take up the smoking
habit and this is something we want to prevent. We will consult, we
will consider all the issues before we move because there are
implications."
He added that businesses will be consulted because they have to be
made to understand that the move will not affect them
adversely.
"At the same time we want them to be a responsible partner in the
move to encourage people not to smoke and to take up a healthy
lifestyle," the minister told the House.
A coffeeshop stallholder said: "If they ban the smoking in these
coffeeshops that will affect our business. All the smokers cannot
smoke here. Usually after they have their drinks, they will relax
and smoke, then they go, continue their work."
But then the question of enforcement will arise and what sort of
penalties will there be for smokers who decide to light up in these
areas. - CNA
