Singapore - NEA Launches
Public Consultation Exercise On Smoking Prohibition Extension
E-poll for public feedback to be launched on 25 November 2011
Singapore, 25 Nov 2011 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) is
commencing a public consultation exercise on extending the list
of smoke-free places to enhance the protection of public from second
hand smoke. To kick start the public consultation, NEA with the
support of Health Promotion Board (HPB), is launching an online
survey or “e-poll” to gather public feedback on smoking and smoke-free
environment. The e-poll is available on the REACH website and via
links on the NEA and HPB’s website from today till the end of the
year.
Smoking Prohibition In Public Places
The prohibition of smoking in public places aims to protect
non-smokers from the harmful health effects of tobacco smoke.
This ban is part of a holistic anti-smoking drive under HPB’s
National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), which is a multi-pronged
nation-wide strategy to promote a tobacco-free environment, reduce
the prevalence of smoking in Singapore, as well as initiate legislative
and fiscal measures progressively. NTCP involves:
(1) The integration and coordination of tobacco control efforts
between HPB and multiple government agencies
(2) Public education campaigns
(3) Community ground-up programmes, such as the I Quit Movement;
(4) Sharing and adoption of international best practices via platforms
such as the World Conference on Tobacco Or Health 2012 (WCTOH),
which will be held in Singapore next year from 21 to 24 March.
Aligned with NTCP objectives, NEA has been extending smoking
bans to increasingly cover more public areas since 1970. Currently,
smoking is prohibited in 37 categories of specified premises and
five categories of public transport, with the latest extension
implemented on 1 January 2009. The current list of places where
smoking is prohibited is given in Annex A.
Reason for the Smoking Prohibition Review
Tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable
death in the world. It is also a key risk factor for cancer, heart
diseases, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD),
the top causes of death among Singaporeans. There is no safe level
of exposure to second-hand smoke, which contributes to a range
of serious and often fatal diseases, including heart disease,
respiratory illness and lung and other cancers. With the majority
(86%) of Singapore’s adult population being non-smokers, there
is need to enhance the protection of public from the harmful effects
of second hand smoke.
There has also been an increasing call from the public to extend
the list of smoke-free places. From 2009 to 2010, the number of
smoking related feedback received has increased by 19%. Some of
the places where the public would like to see smoke free include
common areas of residential buildings, walkways/linkways, and
parks.
The Community’s Role in Building a Smoke-Free Environment
Maintaining a smoke-free environment or extending the
prohibition of smoking in public places in Singapore can only
be successful if the community is supportive of having more smoke-free
places and smokers take responsibility to keep these places smoke-free.
NEA would like to invite members of the public to give their
feedback and comments to enhance the current smoking prohibition
framework in Singapore via an e-poll survey. The public’s feedback
is important and will be considered as NEA reviews the list of
smoke-free places and the approach for future extensions to the
smoking prohibition.
NEA would like to encourage the public to send in their feedback
via the e-poll. Members of the public can access the survey directly
at www.reach.gov.sg or via NEA’s website - www.nea.gov.sg or HPB’s
website - www.hpb.gov.sg. They can also share their views at the
following NEA channels:
1. Email to Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
2. Contact our NEA Call Centre Hotline: 1800-2255 632
The name and personal inputs given via the e-poll will be maintained
in the strictest confidentiality and will not be shared publicly
or with any person or group outside the polling government agency.
For more information, please contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
ANNEX A
LIST OF PLACES WHERE SMOKING IS PROHIBITED
Effective Date : Places where smoking is prohibited
1970 : Omnibus, cinemas, theatres
1973 : Lifts
1982 : Amusement Centres
1988 : Hospitals (indoor), Maternity Homes, Medical Clinics &
Nursing Homes, Indoor areas of fast food outlets, Indoor ice-skating
rinks, roller skating rinks and roller discotheques
1989 : Selected air-con departmental stores, Mini-supermarkets,
supermarkets, Air-con restaurants, Public libraries, museums &
art galleries, Convention halls, Ballrooms, Function Rooms, Indoor
sports arena including bowling alleys, billiard saloons, gymnasiums
and fitness centres
1992 : Private buses (including school buses), taxis, air-conditioned
hair dressing salons, banks, Supreme Court, Subordinate Courts
& Small Claims Tribunals
1994 : Air-con offices, factory floors, enclosed or air-con common
areas of private residential premises
1995 : Changi Airport (air-con area), air-con shopping centres,
underground pedestrian walkways, queues in public places
1997 : ALL schools, air-conditioned shops, enclosed areas in universities
and private clubs
2005 : Public toilets, bus shelters and interchanges, community
centres, swimming pools and stadiums
2006 : ALL hawker centres, coffeeshops and food establishments
2007 : ALL entertainment outlets such as pubs, bars, discos &
lounges
2009 : Non Air-Conditioned Shops, shopping centres, offices, factories
etc., markets, underground and Multi-storey carparks, ferry terminals,
lift lobbies, playgrounds and exercise areas, entrances/exit to
buildings and facilities
http://app2.nea.gov.sg/news_detail_2011.aspx?news_sid=20111125948565339032
Singapore : Health Statistics
Birth rate
8.5 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Death rate
4.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Maternal mortality rate
9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148
Infant mortality rate
total: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 221
male: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
Total Population 82.14 years
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 79.53 years
female: 84.96 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.11 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Health expenditures
3.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Physicians density
1.833 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density
3.14 beds/1,000 population (2008)
Source : https://www.cia.gov
Please view the source for updated information
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