Impact of Changes to Smoking and Cigarette Sales Laws on Smoking and Smokers

22 Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health with recent changes to the smoking and cigarette sales laws, whether there have been changes to the statistics on smoking and smokers, especially amongst women and teenagers.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Based on the Student Health Surveys which are conducted every three years, the prevalence of smoking among Secondary 1 to 4 students decreased from 8.6% in 2006 to 6.2% in 2009 but has remained at the same level in 2012. Although the rate fell to 2% based on the 2015 survey, there was a change in survey methodology, and we are studying the data to better understand if this had an impact.

Based on national health surveys which are also conducted once every three years, smoking amongst women increased from 3.7% in 2007 to 4.2% in 2010 and decreased slightly to 3.8% in 2013.

Smoking prevalence is determined by complex socio-demographic factors as well as the various tobacco control measures introduced in recent years. My Ministry will continue to monitor smoking prevalence in Singapore and further strengthen our tobacco control programme as part of a multipronged approach.