Public Health: Singapore's stringent smoking policies

Singapore's National Environment Agency has told reporters that by 5pm on 1 January, almost 250 people had been verbally warned that they were smoking in a banned place.

No summonses were issued as both smokers and building managers were given a short period to get used to the new rules.

Singapore was one of the first places to ban smoking in restaurants and bars with air conditioning but in recent years, there has been a significant increase in non-compliance.

The new rules will make it even more difficult for smokers - but potentially easier for owners and managers of premises.

New areas where smoking is not permitted include lift lobbies, basement and multi-storey carparks. More controversially is the removal of "cancer corner" from near doorways into buildings. Now there is no smoking within a five metre radius of doorways - although how that works for people walking past has not been spelled out.

But even totally open areas are now included, in some cases. For example, there is to be no smoking in playgrounds.

Full list of new areas as published by the NEA:

• Lift Lobbies• Markets• Multi-storey & Basement Carparks• Hotel Lobbies• Ferry Terminals• Playgrounds• Exercise Areas• Non Air-conditioned Shopping Centres, Shops, Factories & Offices• Within 5 metres of Entrances & Exits

Full list of smoke-free places:

Smoking is prohibited in the following areas:-

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  Any amusement centre.

   

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  Any foodshop, except that the Director-General may designate for smoking, such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the food shop not exceeding 20% of the total floor area of that outdoor refreshment area.

   

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  Any air-conditioned hall, ballroom or function room (including any such premises located in a hotel) during such time when it is used for holding a meeting, conference, seminar, course or an exhibition or for the purpose of serving meals.

   

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  Any cinema or theatre.

   

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  Any enclosed premises of a bank to which members of the public have access for the purpose of carrying out banking transactions.

   

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  Any clinical laboratory, healthcare establishment, hospital, maternity home, medical clinic or nursing home.

   

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  Any indoor ice-skating rink, roller-skating rink or roller-discotheque.

   

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  Any indoor sports arena, bowling alley, billiard saloon, gymnasium or aerobic or fitness centre.

   

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  Any lift.

   

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  Any public library or any library in any institution of higher learning.

   

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  Any public museum or public art gallery.

   

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  Any air-conditioned office premises, except that the manager of such premises may designate for smoking, any enclosed room therein -

   

  (a) which is independently ventilated; and

   

  (b) which is not -

   

  (i) required to be used by any person employed in such premises for the performance of the duties of his employment; or

   

  (ii) a pantry or other common area to which persons employed in such premises have access.

   

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  Any air-conditioned factory.

   

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  Any enclosed or air-conditioned corridor, lobby, stairwell or other common area of -

   

  (a) any building which wholly or principally consists of office premises; or

   

  (b) such part of any building which consists wholly or principally of office premises.

   

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  Any enclosed or air-conditioned common area of any private residential premises or building.

   

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  The Supreme Court, the Subordinate Courts and Small Claims Tribunals.

   

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  Any air-conditioned area in the terminal buildings of Singapore Changi Airport, except that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore may designate for smoking, any enclosed room therein -

   

  (a) which is independently ventilated; and

   

  (b) which is not -

   

  (i) required to be used by any person employed in such terminal buildings for the performance of the duties of his employment; or

   

  (ii) a pantry or other common area to which persons employed in such terminal buildings have access.

   

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  Any air-conditioned shopping mall or complex, including any shop, atrium, corridor, lobby, stairwell or other area within the shopping mall or complex, but excluding any place or premises used as a discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club.

   

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  Any underground pedestrian walkway.

   

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  Any area occupied by a queue of 2 or more persons in a public place.

   

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  Any air-conditioned shop.

   

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  Any air-conditioned restaurant, bowling alley, billiard saloon, arcade games room (including jackpot machine room), gymnasium, fitness centre, library, reading room, theatre or cinema in any private club.

   

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  Any school, junior college, polytechnic or any training institute established under the Institute of Technical Education Act (Cap. 141A), including any area within its compound.

   

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  Any enclosed or air-conditioned part of any building, hall of residence, canteen, lecture theatre, sports and recreation centre or stairwell in any university.

   

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  Any public swimming pool, including any changing or shower room, or any area in the vicinity of such swimming pool which is likely to be frequented by any user of the swimming pool.

   

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  Any washroom (including any mobile toilet), whether managed privately or otherwise, to which members of the public or a section of the public have or ordinarily would have access whether on payment of a fee or otherwise.

   

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  Any sports stadium, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.

   

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  Any community building, community centre or community club belonging to or managed or maintained by the People’s Association, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.

   

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  Any bus interchange, bus terminus (except a bus terminus which is situated along the side of a road and does not provide for boarding of or alighting by passengers) or bus shelter, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.

   

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  Any hawker centre, except that the Director-General may designate for smoking -

   

  (a) such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the hawker centre not exceeding 20% of the total outdoor seating capacity; or

   

  (b) where the hawker centre does not have an outdoor refreshment area, such part of the indoor refreshment area of the hawker centre not exceeding 10% of the total indoor seating capacity.

   

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  Any discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club in any premises or building (including any private club), except that the Director-General may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, designate for smoking —

   

  (a) such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club not exceeding 20% of the total floor area of that outdoor refreshment area; and

   

  (b) any enclosed and independently ventilated room not exceeding 10% of the total indoor refreshment area of the discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club.

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  Any omnibus.

   

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  Any private bus.

   

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  Any private hire bus.

   

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  Any school bus.

   

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  Any taxi.