Why stop at 21? Aim for higher minimum age for tobacco sales

To fight the smoking scourge, Singapore has still not fully utilised the weapons available

Smokers in a designated smoking zone in Orchard Road. It may be time to consider extending the Orchard Road smoke-free zoning to even more places, including the Central Business District and the heartland neighbourhoods, say the writers. If the desig
Smokers in a designated smoking zone in Orchard Road. It may be time to consider extending the Orchard Road smoke-free zoning to even more places, including the Central Business District and the heartland neighbourhoods, say the writers. If the designated smoking areas are located well, they add, smokers can still satisfy their nicotine fix while inadvertent exposure to second-hand smoke will be radically reduced. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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From today, the minimum legal age to buy tobacco in Singapore will be raised from 20 to 21. This is part of the Government's recent effort to tackle the problem of smoking, together with measures such as plain packaging, point-of-sale display bans and the Orchard Road smoking ban.

The concerted effort in tobacco control has seen smoking rates in Singapore fall steadily from 14.3 per cent in 2010 to 10.6 per cent in 2019. While this is a laudable achievement, the country cannot afford to rest on its laurels and more needs to be done.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 01, 2021, with the headline Why stop at 21? Aim for higher minimum age for tobacco sales. Subscribe