Provision of Dedicated Smoking Facilities in Town Areas
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Christopher de Souza’s inquiry regarding the provision of dedicated smoking facilities in town areas to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that there are no plans to build such facilities, as trials showed they do not reduce smoking-related feedback compared to areas without them. She noted that these facilities could become congregation points and inadvertently normalise smoking, particularly for youth, though private owners may still set them up in non-prohibited zones with approval. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien emphasized that the National Environment Agency will maintain enforcement at smoking-prohibited locations like bus stops and malls. The government's priority remains encouraging smokers to quit the habit entirely for personal and community health benefits.
Transcript
10 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether dedicated smoking facilities can be built in town areas to encourage smokers not to smoke in public places, to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Town areas, such as the central business district, are generally not smoking-prohibited zones under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Regulations (SPCPR). Premises owners may set up smoking facilities in these areas with the approval of the relevant land agencies and owners. However, within the town areas, there are pockets of smoking-prohibited places such as bus stops, covered pedestrian walkways and shopping malls, where smoking facilities are not permitted. In town areas which are designated as no-smoking zones under the SPCPR, such as the Orchard Road No-Smoking Zone, smoking facilities are allowed but are subject to prescribed requirements.
The provision of smoking facilities, whether in town areas or outside, should be carefully considered. Smoking facilities have to be sited carefully to minimise the public’s exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Based on our recent analysis of smoking feedback data and ground observations of the trial at Nee Soon South constituency, the presence of designated smoking points has not reduced public feedback on smoking, as compared to other neighbouring divisions without such facilities.
Smoking facilities are likely to become congregation points for smokers. The proliferation of smoking facilities may inadvertently normalise smoking, especially among the youth. We want to avoid this as far as possible. In view of the above considerations, we currently have no plans to build smoking facilities at town areas.
The National Environment Agency will continue to monitor and enforce against smoking violations at town areas and other smoking-prohibited locations.
We urge smokers to abide by the smoking prohibition, and strive to quit the smoking habit for the benefit of their own health, their loved ones, and the community.