Total smoking ban is a measure to be considered carefully: m
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Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan says a complete ban on smoking in Singapore has to be considered carefully as it may cause unintended problems.
He was responding to recent calls for such a ban when he spoke at the 7th Singapore Stroke Conference.
To help stub out the smoking habit, the government has smoking cessation programmes and made cigarettes more expensive and unavailable to the young.
Just recently, smoking in public areas like bus interchanges and swimming complexes was banned.
Now, there are calls for a complete ban -- from people like neurologist Dr Ramani.
He said up to a quarter of all strokes are caused by smoking - and stroke is Singapore's fourth leading cause of death.
But Dr Balaji said a total ban raises other issues.
He said: "A total ban on cigarettes may cause unintended problems. Banning may increase the illegal trade and smuggling of cigarettes, as happened to alcohol during the prohibition in the US.
"Tourists may shy away from coming to Singapore. Hence, a total ban on cigarettes in Singapore is a measure which we will have to consider very carefully."
Although he hasn't ruled it out for now, the Ministry will be continuing its anti-smoking efforts.
"I hear Dr Balaji's comments. While I am a little disappointed that we are not going to ban it straight away, I am happy the Ministry is considering it. I think we are in sync," said Dr Ramani, a neurologist at the National Neuroscience Institute.
In fact, Dr Balaji said that in time to come, it might not even be necessary to have a smoking ban as the Ministry aims to cut down the number of new smokers to zero.
He did not give a time frame for this.
The Ministry also aims to reduce the number of existing smokers. - CNA/ir -
then ban ppl sleeping on beds too coz many ppl die on it tooOriginally posted by sbst275:He said up to a quarter of all strokes are caused by smoking - and stroke is Singapore's fourth leading cause of death.
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Aiyah, what they want is the tax revenue
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its so easy if they want the government to ban smoking,juz get ppl to smoke inside the mrt train.
rem how bubble gum was banned? -
Sillypore will never ban smoking totally.
Ban smoking = No tax return = No $$$ = where to find $$$ to pay mini stars. -
x2Originally posted by Manager433:Sillypore will never ban smoking totally.
Ban smoking = No tax return = No $$$ = where to find $$$ to pay mini stars.
Liquor tax under LHL, up 110% in 4 yrs -
Anyway, me quit smoking liao. No smoking means no more drinking means no more cheong pub liao means can save more $$$.Originally posted by sbst275:x2
Liquor tax under LHL, up 110% in 4 yrs
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Good lahOriginally posted by Manager433:Anyway, me quit smoking liao. No smoking means no more drinking means no more cheong pub liao means can save more $$$.
But cannot stand, last time those Samsoo suku bottle cost $3 in 2001, now it cost $6.50... Now 1 brewer tor diao leow
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Samsoo doesn't seem popular as a beverage, does it? Most of the time, it is used as an offering to the deities.Originally posted by sbst275:Good lah
But cannot stand, last time those Samsoo suku bottle cost $3 in 2001, now it cost $6.50... Now 1 brewer tor diao leow -
den gst,taxes everything will go up again..
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You are very wrongOriginally posted by iveco:Samsoo doesn't seem popular as a beverage, does it? Most of the time, it is used as an offering to the deities.
Bef LHL increased the taxes, a provision shop can sell the suku bottles 1 bundle of 24 bottles in 2 weeks now it takes 3 mths -
Well, I seldom see people drinking them. I only know some of my relatives use it during "bai bai".Originally posted by sbst275:You are very wrong
Bef LHL increased the taxes, a provision shop can sell the suku bottles 1 bundle of 24 bottles in 2 weeks now it takes 3 mths -
Chinese dun drink samsoo much...Originally posted by iveco:Well, I seldom see people drinking them. I only know some of my relatives use it during "bai bai". -
singaporeans will have to worry if they decide to ban it.
because the tax money has to come from somewhere else.
where?
we dont cut tax for free.