SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT: THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

Expanding Smoke Free EnvironmentsKL 8-9 August 2009

Joanne ChandlerAdult Health Division, Health Promotion Board

Chian Jian WeiPolicy Department, National Environment Agency

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Introduction: Jo Chandler

Smoking situation in Singapore

National Smoking Control Programme

Smoke-free legislation in Singapore: Chian Jian Wei

Milestones: smoke-free legislation

Implementing smoke-free legislation

Next steps & challenges ahead

INTRODUCTION

SMOKING SITUATION IN S’PORE

Smoking Prevalence of Singapore Residents (18-69 years)

18.3

15.2

13.8

12.613.6

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

1992 1998 2001 2004 2007

Year

Sm

oki

ng

Pre

vale

nce

(%

)

Source: Ministry of Health Singapore

SMOKING SITUATION IN S’POREPercentage Breakdown of Singapore Residents by Ethnicity, 2008.

74.7

13.6

8.72.8

Chinese

Malay

Indian

Others

Total:

3.64 mil

Source: Monthly digest of Statistics-April 2009, Singapore Department of Statistics, http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/mdsapr09.pdf

SMOKING SITUATION IN S’PORESmoking Prevalence (%) By Gender & Ethnic Group 2007

13.63.723.7Total

11.41.520.6Indian

23.25.541.3Malay

12.33.621.2Chinese

TotalFemalesMalesEthnic Group

NATIONAL SMOKING CONTROL PROGRAMME

MULTI-PRONGE

D

MULTI-PRONGE

D

PublicEducation

PartnershipsLegislation Taxation

SmokingCessation Services

REDUCE SUPPLY

REDUCE DEMAND

National strategies:

NATIONAL SMOKING CONTROL PROGRAMME

Global Agreements:

Singapore ratified the FCTC in 2004

Sets protocols & guidelines to help focus national strategies

Article workgroups for shared learning

NATIONAL SMOKING CONTROL PROGRAMME

• Health Promotion Board – lead agency for overall tobacco control

• Health Science Authority – tobacco regulation and enforcement

• Ministry of Health – lead government body for HPB/HSA

• National Environment Agency – lead agency on smoking bans & enforcement

• Singapore Customs – illicit trade & import/export control

Co-ordination mechanisms, strategy & planning:

SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION IN SINGAPORE

MILESTONES:SMOKE-FREE LEGIS’N

First enacted in October 1970

Administered by National Environment Agency under Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act

Now, 37 categories of public places & 5 categories of public transport

Fully implemented FCTC Article 8

Smoke-Free Places (70s and 80s)Effective Date Places where Smoking is Prohibited

Oct 1970 Omnibus Cinemas Theatres

Mar 1973 Lifts

Oct 1982 Amusement Centres

July 1988 Hospitals, Maternity Homes, Medical Clinics and Nursing Homes

Indoor areas of fast food outlets Indoor ice-skating rinks, roller skating rinks and roller

discotheques

Sep 1989 Selected air-con departmental stores Mini-supermarkets, supermarkets Air-con restaurants Public libraries, museums and art galleries Convention halls, Ballrooms, Function Rooms Indoor sports arena including bowling alleys, billiard

saloons, gymnasiums and fitness centres

Smoke-Free Places (90s)

Effective Date Places where Smoking is Prohibited

Apr 1992 Private buses, school buses and taxi Air-con hair-dressing saloons and barber shops Banking halls

Dec 1992 The Supreme Court, Subordinate Courts and Small Claims Tribunals

Sep 1994 Air-con offices, factory floors, enclosed or air-con common areas of private residential premises

Mar 1995 Changi Airport terminal building (air-con area)

Dec 1995 Air-con shopping centres Underground pedestrian walkways Queues in public places

Aug 1997 Selected air-con areas/ facilities in private clubs Schools, polytechnics, junior colleges and ITEs Enclosed/ air-con areas in universities Air-con shops

Smoke-Free Places (2000-2010)Effective Date Places where Smoking is Prohibited

Oct 2005 Public toilets Bus interchanges/ shelters Swimming pools Community centres/clubs Stadiums

Jul 2006 Coffeeshops and non air-conditioned foodshops Hawker centres

Jul 2007 Entertainment outlets

Jan 2009 Non air-con shops, shopping centres, offices, factories Markets Underground and multi-storey car parks Ferry terminals Lift lobbies Hotel lobbies Playgrounds and exercise areas Entrances

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

1. Planning International benchmarking & meeting FCTC

obligations under Article 8 Reviewing & agreeing national strategies Identifying & gathering support from National

partners Assessing level of support from public & trade Drafting legislation

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

2. Implementing Enacting the law Public education campaign Enforcement planning & training Publicising penalties & offences Monitoring & reviewing

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Enforcement infrastructure & strategies:

NEA- Monitor public compliance- Work with managers of premises to ensure ban is observed- Conduct enforcement blitzes at problematic places

Manager of Premises

- Obliged under law to enforce ban- Empowered to ask smokers to stop smoking or leave the premises

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Mobilising the community: Public consultation

- Online consultation

- Focus group discussion

- Dialogue sessions

Ground Work with Operators- Briefing

- Site visit

- Providing collaterals

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Mobilising the community: Publicity

- Posters

- TV commercials

- Publicity by trade

- Press coverage

IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATIONPublic education: e.g’s of posters

IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

Public Education: Print advertisements (2007)

IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

Working with trade: Issuing Guidelines

IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATIONWorking with trade: publicity by partners (2007)

IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATIONPress coverage (2007)

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Nature of OffenceComposition of

Offence*If Convicted in Court

Smokers smoking in prohibited places[Section 3(2)]

$200

[1st and subsequent offences]

1st and subsequent conviction:

Fine not exceeding $1,000

Manager failing to display notice[Section 5(3)] 1st offence: $200

 

2nd and subsequent offence: $500

1st and subsequent conviction: Fine not exceeding $1,000

Manager failing to take action against offender[Section 6(4)]

1st conviction: Fine not exceeding $1,000

2nd and subsequent conviction: Fine not exceeding $2,000

Publicising Penalties:

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Summary of effective policies: Advocacy

- Whole-of-government approach

- Active consultation with public, key opinion leaders & industry

- Education on harmful effects of second-hand smoke

- Mobilising the community

- Important role of media

IMPLEMENTING SMOKE-FREE LEGISLATION

Summary of effective policies: Clear legislation

- Roles of manager of premises

- Infrastructure for enforcement

- Heavy penalties for violation

Regular review

- Evaluate effectiveness of legislation

- Revise legislation to close loopholes

NEXT STEPS & CHALLENGES AHEAD Strengthen current strategies:

Visible enforcement & penalties

Maintaining public support

Review current list & move away from partial bans, separate smoking areas etc

Explore new strategies: Public education through research on harmful effects of

second-hand smoke to reach areas that are not part of current legislation e.g. vehicles, homes, protecting children

Explore extending bans

NEXT STEPS & CHALLENGES AHEAD

Whole-of-government approach: Alignment with national smoking control programme

NEA to continue collaborations with Health Promotion Board, Health Science Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Manpower

Singapore as a Centre for Excellence on a global platform

WCTOH 2012 in Singapore

Thank You