Starting from 1 July, smoking will be prohibited at all public parks, some water sites, and 10 recreation beaches, with the enforcement kicking in on October to give smokers time to adjust to the new rules.
That’s right, parks are no longer ideal hangout places for smokers.
The broadened smoking ban was first announced in March, as part of the nation’s effort to clamp down on smoking and reduce the negative impact of second-hand tobacco smoke.
Where Will Smoking Be Banned?
If anything, it’s easier to ask which places aren’t covered, then the places that are, because the list gets pretty extensive.
It covers all public parks and playgrounds, gardens, Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) sites, plus 10 recreational beaches.
Which brings more than 100 sites under these categories, joining the list of more than 49,000 places where smoking has been banned.
Readers: Are there really that many?
Yes, because the items in the extensive list includes entertainment outlets, shopping malls, bus stops, and common areas in residential buildings.
If there’s something Singapore doesn’t lack for, it’s all of the above.
As for the recreational beaches, it includes the beaches in Changi, East Coast, West Coast, Sembawang, Pasir Ris, Coney Island, Punggol, Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong.
Never knew Singapore had this many beaches, huh.
Prior to these new inclusions, smoking was already banned in select green spaces like neighbourhood parks, private and public housing estates, reservoirs and nature reserves.
The Reason for the Expansion
According to a joint media release by National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks) and Sentosa, this round is meant to target places frequented by people for recreational activities.
If the month of March is ringing any bells for you, it’s also the month where the Supply Debates were taking place.
During the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s (MSE) hoard of debates, several Members of Parliament (MPs) brought up the issue of second-hand smoking and asked if a new piece of legislation can be introduced to tackle the problem.
In the last year alone, more than 13,000 tickets were issued for smoking in prohibited areas.
Nearly 40% of the offenders were caught smoking in common areas around the HDBs, such as the lift lobbies and staircases, since more people were working from home.
The New Penalties
Standard procedures apply for the new sites.
However, for the sake of giving people sufficient time to get used to the new rules, those caught smoking at the new sites in the first three months will be let off with a verbal advisory.
After 1 October, offenders will face a fine of S$200 to a maximum of S$1,000, if convicted in court.
If you’re worried that you might forget the new laws, don’t worry, the government will remind you through the new signs, posters and banners that will be put up in the new smoke-free zones.
Designated Smoking Areas
However, at some of the larger regional parks like West Coast or Bishan-Ang Mo Kio, and the three beaches at Sentosa, there will be Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs).
For more details, you can find the list here.
The DSAs are marked out by yellow boxes and typically have a rubbish bin with an ashtray on top nearby.
If you’ve been to Orchard Road, a precinct that was designated as a No Smoking Zone in January 2019, you’ve probably caught sight of a few of the 50 designated smoking areas.
The same restrictions apply in these new sites: you can only light a cigarette in these small boxes.
Featured Image: Shutterstock / Zen HP