Smoking ban extended

The shortlist of public places still open to smokers will shrink even further next month when a nationwide smoking ban is extended to hotel lobbies and carparks, among other areas. The ban, part of a drive to stamp out smoking that began nearly four decades ago, comes into effect on Jan 1.

It will include non-air-conditioned offices, lift lobbies, multi-storey carparks and anywhere within five metres of the entrances and exits of buildings. The move is aimed at 'protecting the public from second-hand smoke said National Environment Agency (NEA). The drive is part of a global initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has urged governments to push for smoke-free work places and public places.

Singapore is among the close to 150 countries that have signed the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Republic already meets its mandatory requirements, including a ban on tobacco advertising and health warnings on cigarettes.

In Singapore, smoking is already banned in all nightspots, hawker centres, restaurants and community clubs, among other places. Other places that have stubbed out smoking in public include Ireland, Sweden, Britain, India and Hong Kong. Casinos in the upcoming integrated resorts in Sentosa and Marina Bay have been exempted from the ban, though operators will have to draw up 'house rules' to protect non-smokers, the NEA said.

Any smoker who ignores the ban can be fined a maximum of $1,000. Operators who fail to advise their patrons against lighting up can also be fined. NEA said that between the Jul 1, 2007 nightspot stub-out and last month, 157 people were fined for lighting up outside designated smoking areas. More than 3,000 people have been booked for doing the same at food outlets and coffee shops since a July 2006 ban.

To cope with the wider ban from Jan 1, more enforcement officers will be on the prowl. The number of officers who will keep tabs on smokers - and also those who litter - will rise to 120 daily from 50 now. This is on top of the 500 NEA public health enforcement officers.

Ahead of the ban, hotels and building owners here already got a head start on going smoke-free. Most hotels here have already banned smoking in their lobbies. Suntec City and the 26-storey Carlton Hotel have moved smoking bins or designated smoking areas further away from their doors. While some smokers were not enamoured of the ban, they conceded it has merit.

Along with more smoke-free areas from Jan 1, smokers here can only smoke specially-labelled cigarettes that will distinguish the duty-paid ones from their contraband counterparts. Singapore has one of the lowest adult smoking rates in the world at about 13 per cent, according to a 2004 survey.