"Ban smoking in parks, park connectors as well"
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/for ... l-20130115
Watch today's TV news to see report of NEA officers spreading awareness of the new policies at a famous shelter at Toa Payoh.
Called NEA & Nparks for clarifications as to whether smoking is allowed in some parks or some areas in a park. Both organisation say they cannot commit anything on the phone and need to check with their officer-in-charge and get back to me by tomorrow.
If indeed there is a smoking ban in all areas in all parks, then it will be easier for us to politely discourage people not to smoke during sidewalk astronomy sessions there.
This is the recent press release from NEA:
Source: http://app2.nea.gov.sg/news_detail_2013 ... 2592823906
Smoking prohibition to be extended to five new areas island wide from 15 January 2013
News Release
Cleaner Air For All - A Healthier Singapore
Smoking prohibition to be extended to five new areas island wide from 15 January 2013
Singapore, 11 January 2013 – From 15th January next week, smokers can no longer light up at the following five new areas that have been included in the smoking prohibition laws:
i. Common areas of all residential buildings
ii. Covered linkways and walkways
iii. Overhead pedestrian bridges
iv. Within 5-metre radius of bus shelters [smoking at bus stops not allowed from October 2005]
v. Hospital outdoor compounds [smoking inside hospital buildings not allowed from July 1988]
This follows the announcement made by Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Ms Grace Fu at the Budget Debate last year – where it was shared that more public places will go smoke-free so as to further limit the exposure of the public to the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke.
There has been broad public support for extending the smoking prohibition to more places. A November 2011 public consultation exercise conducted to gather feedback on smoking prohibition revealed that 89% of respondents were supportive of extending smoking prohibition to cover more public places. The public areas included in this latest extension were among the top places that respondents had indicated support for smoking to be curbed.
Implementation
NEA will take an advisory approach in the first three months of the roll-out where those caught smoking in the new areas will receive warnings. This is to allow members of the public time to adjust to the extension. However, smokers who repeatedly flout the law in spite of warnings given can be issued a fine of up to $1,000.
To communicate these messages, NEA has been working with various stakeholders to put up signage at locations such as staircase landings and lift lobbies. Educational posters will also be put up at bus stops across the island. Bins with ashtrays in areas under the latest extension will be shifted or replaced with bins without ashtrays. Bins with ashtrays found at bus shelters will be moved five metres away.
In addition, NEA will raise awareness among the community through educational skits, crowd sourcing of mobile applications and competitions.
Community-Led Efforts to Promote a Smoke-Free Singapore
NEA has adopted the campaign tagline, ‘Cleaner Air for All – A Healthier Singapore’ to highlight the inclusive approach that we are taking in the roll-out of this extension to the smoking prohibition. Cleaner air is the responsibility of all Singaporeans hence both smokers and non-smokers play important roles to ensure the effective implementation of the smoking prohibition extension. Cleaner air will not just benefit members of the community who are non-smokers but smokers as well. In this way, NEA hopes to enlist the support of all Singaporeans and work with the community to create more smoke-free places.
Grassroots organisations from HDB estates will be reaching out to smokers in their estates to advise smokers about the new smoking prohibition extension. A few of the estates taking the lead are Ang Mo Kio-Hougang, Toa Payoh, Tampines, Bukit Panjang and Woodlands. Student groups from tertiary institutions will also be reaching out to their fellow schoolmates and residents in their neighbourhoods on the new prohibitions. In addition, NEA is also working with selected shops such as Cheers and 7-Eleven outlets where cigarette sales are higher to help distribute collaterals to remind smokers of the new ban when selling cigarettes in their shops.
Moving Forward
With more areas gradually being included under the smoking prohibition laws, the long-term goal is to make all public places smoke-free except at designated smoking points or areas. Moving towards this long-term objective, NEA encourages building owners to look into demarcating designated smoking points within their premises for the benefit of their tenants and visitors.
These initiatives are part of the national tobacco control strategy targeted to denormalise and reduce tobacco use. NEA will also continue to work with relevant stakeholders such as the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to protect the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. With support from the entire community, we are hopeful that all in Singapore will enjoy cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Background
Tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death in the world. It is also a key risk factor for cancer, heart diseases, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), the top causes of death among Singaporeans. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, which contributes to a range of serious and often fatal diseases, including heart disease, respiratory illness and lung and other cancers. With the majority (86%) of Singapore’s adult population being non-smokers, there is a need to enhance the protection of public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
The Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act administered by NEA is part of the national effort to promote a smoke-free lifestyle in Singapore. NEA has been gradually expanding the list of smoke-free places covered under the Act in consultation with the public and relevant stakeholders. The current list of places where smoking is prohibited is given in Annex A.
~~ End ~~
For more information, please contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
Annex A: List Of Places Where Smoking Is Prohibited
List of Premises Under Smoking Prohibition
· Omnibus
· Cinemas
· Theatres
· Lifts
· Amusement Centres
· Hospitals, Maternity Homes, Medical Clinics and Nursing Homes
· Indoor areas of fast-food outlets
· Indoor Ice-skating Rinks, Roller Skating Rinks and Roller Discotheques
· Selected air-con Departmental Stores
· Mini-Supermarkets, Supermarkets
· Air-con Restaurants
· Public libraries, Museums and Art Galleries
· Convention Halls or Multi-Purpose Halls used for meetings or exhibitions
· Indoor Sports Arena including Bowling Alleys, Billiard Saloons, Gymnasiums and Fitness Centres
· Private Buses, School Buses and Taxis
· Banking Halls
· Air-con Hair-dressing Saloons and Barber Shops
· The Supreme Court
· Subordinate Courts
· Small Claims Tribunals
· Air-con offices
· Factory Floors
· Enclosed or air-con common areas of private residential premises
· Air-con area in Changi Airport terminal buildings
· Air-con Shopping Centres
· Underground Pedestrian Walkways
· Queues in public places
· Selected air-con areas/facilities in private clubs
· Air-conditioned shops
· Enclosed or air-con areas in universities
· Schools, polytechnics, junior colleges and Institutes of Technical Education
· Public toilets
· Bus Shelter
· Bus interchanges
· Swimming pools
· Community centres/clubs
· Stadiums
· Hawker centres
· Coffee shops
· Entertainment outlets
· Non air-con shops, shopping centres, offices, factories
· Lift lobbies
· Hotel lobbies
· Markets
· Multi-storey and basement carparks
· Ferry terminals
· Entrance or exits to buildings/facilities where smoking is prohibited
· Playgrounds and exercise areas