SINGAPORE: Taking that afternoon jaunt outside to pull a few drags on a cigarette may become a thing of the past in Singapore, if the government has their way. The ministry of environment on Monday said it was pushing forward on the smoking ban and hoped it would galvanize many to end the “destructive” habit. Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources told Parliament on Monday that the ministry is “actively monitoring and implementing initiatives” to protect non-smokers and to reduce smokers. The ministry's overall long-term goal is to end smoking in all public places, except at “designated smoking points.” Ironically, many in the city-state believe the move is a positive for the residents. Even smokers. “I have been a smoker since I was 16 and I really want to quick, so this kind of crackdown and making it illegal and costly for me to smoke in public is a good thing I think,” said graphic designer Change Hu. He told Bikyamasr.com that “by not smoking I get to spend more time doing other things and being with my friends and family who don't smoke.” The minister highlighted that a significant portion in the increase of smokers are those aged between 18 and 39. The ministry said, based on a recent survey conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in 2010, 14.3 percent of Singaporeans smoke, an increase of less than one percent as compared to the results survey in 2007. This year, the ministry plans to increase the prohibition areas to common grounds in residential buildings, sheltered walkways, linkways, overhead bridges, outdoor compounds of hospitals and a five meter buffer zone around bus shelters. If caught, a fine of $1,000 will be handed down to the culprit. And Chang said it is the right move for the city. “We want a clean and pollution free city, so if we have smokers like me lighting up everywhere that wouldn't happen,” he said.
