SMOKERS LEFT WITH FEWER SPACES AS SMOKING BAN EXPANDS

From 1 October, smoking in outdoor areas of universities, private education institutions and in private-hire cars will be banned.

Smoking within a 5 metre radius of educational institutions like childcare centers, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, madrasahs, junior colleges, polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education campuses will not be allowed. Smokers will also have to stop smoking and stub out their cigarettes before boarding excursion buses and trishaws.

This according to a statement by the National Environment Agency (NEA) statement yesterday, which announced the expansion of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, which aims to reduce public exposure to second hand smoke and to promote a smoke-free lifestyle in Singapore.

Strict enforcement action will be taken from 1 January 2018. In the first 3 months of the ban, offenders will be given verbal warnings.