HOW Smoking HAVE REACTED
The ever-increasing limits on tobacco, coupled with different techniques such as massive hikes in the tobacco taxes over the years, have had mixed results.
They gave some smoking, like Mr Kevin Wang, the desire to stop.
Some claim that the challenge of finding smoking points makes them dust less when they have to leave the house, especially if they have to travel to the Orchard Road neighborhood or the central business district.
Madam Quek claimed that she smokes six to eight pieces per day on average, but that figure drops to four when she leaves area.
There are also smokers who have merely changed and found ways to carry on their behavior.
Mr Robert Fernando, for instance, said that the limitations did not deter him from cutting down his speed of 20 pieces per time. The 65-year-old simply steers clear of the areas where he can no longer easily smoke his tobacco.
” I stopped going to Orchard Road because it took away my liberty,” I said.
Some original smoking, however, have switched to vaping, unfortunately because they find it more easy in some ways – since it is outlawed anywhere, they feel they can light up everywhere.
” Vaping offers the nicotine hit with better flavours, no smell, and the flexibility to vape anywhere, even indoors ( which is not possible with cigarettes )”, said a creative director in his 30s who wished to remain anonymous.
” You can take a hit anytime, anyplace. It is so prevalent in Singapore that no one is surprised when you see somebody doing it. This normalisation makes it easier to smoke inside – at headquarters, home parties, perhaps in public restrooms”.
Cigarettes have grown so common that the law has increased penalties for criminals.  ,
In December, the HSA and the Immigration Checkpoints Authority carried out an enforcement activity at Changi Airport that discovered 177 people entering Singapore with e-vaporizers. Sixty-one of them were fined.  ,  ,
Authorities have mandated that kids caught using or possessing e-vaporizers be required to enter cessation programs run by the Health Promotion Board and institutions since November 2023.
The Health Sciences Authority may also be contacted by the colleges to request additional penalties, such as fines or trial, for refractory offenders.