December 16, 2008

A Great Extension

Dominique Thoughts

Come the 1st of Jan 2009 there will be a bigger smile on my face as NEA in Singapore extends the smoking ban to include the following places

*info from their website.

a. Indoor public places. These include non air-conditioned shops,
non air-conditioned shopping centres (e.g. neighbourhood shopping
centres), non air-conditioned offices, hotel lobbies, markets,
multi-storey and basement car parks, ferry terminals, and more .

b. Lift lobbies

c. Entrances and exits to buildings and facilities where smoking is
already prohibited. (within 5 metres of the entrances or exits where
applicable)

d. Playgrounds and exercise areas

This gradual extension of the smoking ban, which the NEA has
implemented over the years, is in line with World Health Organisation
(WHO) recommendations under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco
Control (FCTC), which Singapore ratified in May 2004. In the
convention, parties are to provide protection from exposure to
second-hand smoke in:

a. Indoor workplaces.
b. Indoor public places.
c. Public transport.
d. Other public places, as appropriate.

The ban has been extended to indoor public places and lift lobbies
because these are areas where public would find it hard to escape from
second-hand smoke.

Entrances and exits to buildings and facilities where smoking is
already prohibited were also included in the ban extension because
feedback and checks on the ground have shown that smokers tend to
congregate near entrances/exits to smoke. With the extension, members
of the public will be able to use the entrances and exits of buildings
without being affected by second-hand smoke.

The ban is extended to playground and exercise areas to safeguard the health of children, the elderly and other users.

The NEA urges the public to continue to render their support for the smoking ban and help keep our air clean.

I am very glad that the boys and I do not have to deliberately make detours or hold our breaths whenever we have to walk pass these ” toxic  chimneys”.

I utterly hate it when people smoke in the stairwell leading to the carpark. If they want to ruin their life go ahead but do be considerate towards the health and well-being of others especially the young kids that have to walk around the area.  When the ban comes into effect next month I’m sure that we will have lesser nasty encounters while commuting around.

It would mean cleaner air and less chances of my kids suffering the horrible effects of 2nd hand smoke which could lead to lung cancer after a prolong exposure.

Do you have similar feelings too?

*Updated Jan 2009*

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