The no-smoking path

Ban people from doing so while walking but also enforce such a regulation

I REFER to the report "Govt exploring extension of smoking ban in public places" (Oct 13), an action which is long overdue.

The perils of smoking and second-hand smoke are well known; the World Health Organization calls tobacco use the biggest health hazard that nations face.

The Government should not only ban people from smoking while they are walking but also have tight enforcement to ensure against disregard for such a regulation.

It is imperative the Government takes a multi-pronged approach on smoking. This should include banning the sale of tobacco products to those born in or after the year 2000 so that smoking will eventually be eradicated here.

New licences for the sale of tobacco products should not be issued, while the nationwide NTUC FairPrice supermarket chain could take the lead to cease the sale of tobacco products as part of its ethos to promote social and corporate responsibility.

Of course, it would be better to revoke current licences and have designated smoking centres to stop people from lighting up indiscriminately.

Medical subsidies should not be given to smokers for hospitalisation in public hospitals and for polyclinic visits. They ought to pay the full cost for the harm and suffering they inflict upon others.

I would even suggest not giving work permits, employment passes, permanent residency or citizenship to those who smoke.

Meanwhile, the Workplace Health and Safety Act should make it an employer's duty to provide segregated offices for smokers and non-smokers to minimise non-smokers' exposure to the odour and by-products such as tar in smokers' breath and on their person.

There should be stiffer sanctions against those who flout the smoking ban and more enforcement officers island-wide.

I hope the Government will have the political will to implement such measures, for the taxes collected on tobacco simply do not outweigh the medical/health costs associated with smoking.

Stamping out tobacco use in Singapore will benefit the majority of the non-smoking population. If a country like Bhutan can ban the sale of tobacco products, I cannot see why we cannot do the same to promote health and happiness in our nation.

Even if the policies are bitter medicine to some, the government of the day must have the moral courage to do what is right.