Physical Barriers to Separate Smoking and Non-smoking Areas in Coffee Shops
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a proposal by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang to mandate physical barriers between smoking and non-smoking areas in coffee shops. Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that barriers are not being mandated as they are impractical and ineffective at limiting the spread of second-hand smoke. She noted that NEA ceased approving new smoking corners in 2017 and is phasing out existing ones as licenses are terminated or cancelled. Currently, smoking corners are restricted to peripheral sections and 20% of outdoor refreshment areas, with their total number expected to decrease over time. The Minister urged smokers to exercise social responsibility and be considerate of others rather than relying on physical separation measures.
Transcript
21 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Ministry will consider mandating physical barriers to separate smoking and non-smoking areas in coffee shops so as to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke on those not smoking.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: To limit the exposure of second-hand tobacco smoke on non-smokers, smoking has been prohibited at all coffee shops since July 2006, except at designated smoking corners. Smoking corners are, typically, located at the peripheral sections of outdoor refreshment areas and are also limited to 20% of the outdoor refreshment areas.
Since June 2017, to further reduce the public’s exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke at retail food establishments, including coffee shops, NEA has stopped accepting applications for new smoking corners in retail food establishments. Existing smoking corners in retail food establishments will be phased out when the licences of the establishments are terminated or cancelled. As such, the number of smoking corners in retail food establishments will decrease over time.
There are no plans to mandate the installation of physical barriers to separate the smoking and non-smoking areas in coffee shops, as such barriers are not practical and ineffective in limiting the spread of second-hand tobacco smoke.
I urge smokers to be considerate and exercise social responsibility by refraining from lighting up at places where the second-hand tobacco smoke can affect others around them.