To reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in Singapore, HPB adopts a multi-pronged approach which includes a comprehensive mix of strategies such as public education, provision of smoking cessation services, legislation controlling tobacco advertising, sales of cigarettes to minors and taxation.

Tobacco taxation 

The Health Promotion Board plays an active role in advocating and recommending tobacco taxation strategies, and works in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance on a regular basis. Taxation has been shown to be a cost-effective strategy to reduce smoking prevalence rates. A study by the World Bank showed that for every 10% increase in the real inflation-adjusted price, there will be a decrease in the consumption of cigarettes by 2% - 8%. Local data has shown that increasing cigarette prices correspond to a decreasing per capita consumption.

Tobacco taxes have been implemented since the 1980s to discourage non-smokers from picking up the smoking habit, and to encourage current smokers to stop or smoke less. The current cigarette tax is $0.491 per stick of 1g or below, and an additional $0.491 per stick of 1g for each additional 1g or part thereof.

Tobacco control legislation

Legislative measures, started in the early 1970s, undergo regular reviews to incorporate the best international practices, as well as to keep up with social behaviour trends among Singaporeans. The two main legislation instruments are:

1. The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale of Tobacco) Act (enforced by the Health Sciences Authority), which includes:

  • Prohibiting tobacco advertisements and promotion.
  • Mandatory rotation of graphic health warnings on tobacco products.
  • Limiting the tar and nicotine levels of cigarettes sold locally.
  • Prohibiting the use of tobacco products by persons below 18 years of age.
  • Prohibiting the sale/supply of tobacco to these under-aged youths.

 

In July 2010, the Parliament passed the Amendment Bill to the Smoking (Control of Advertisements and Sale of Tobacco) Act which was subsequently renamed as the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. Recent amendments aim to strengthen Singapore's tobacco control efforts include:

  • In 2013, Singapore banned misleading descriptors such as "mild", "low tar" and "ultra-light".
  • In 2017, Singapore implemented a point-of-sale display ban for tobacco products, and banned the purchase, use and possession of imitation tobacco products.
  • From 2019 to 2021, Singapore progressively raised the minimum legal age at which tobacco products can be purchased from 18 years to 21 years of age.
  • On 1 July 2020, all tobacco packaging is required to come in standardised packaging.

 

2. The Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act (enforced by the National Environment Agency) prohibits smoking in public places. To date, the Act has been extended progressively to include all public transport, air-conditioned indoor workplaces and restaurants, non-air-conditioned indoor places; hospitals and educational facilities, pubs and bars; and some outdoor places.

Places under the ambit of the smoking ban include:

  • Public transport, clinics, hospitals, maternity homes, nursing homes.
  • Public libraries, libraries in institutions of higher learning, public museums, art galleries, government workplaces.
  • Rooms used for public functions, public areas in banks, indoor sports stadium, bowling alleys, billiards saloons, gymnasiums, aerobic and fitness centres, fast food centres, air-conditioned restaurants, mini supermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, coffee shops and hawker centres.
  • All air-conditioned workplaces, Changi International Airport, all air-conditioned shopping centres, public queues, public toilets, swimming pools, stadium and pedestrian underpasses.
  • All schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, training institutes, air-conditioned and enclosed areas in universities.
  • Air-conditioned and enclosed areas in private clubs, and air-conditioned shops in town centres, hotels and petrol stations.
  • All hawker centres, coffee shops and al fresco eating establishments.
  • All entertainment outlets, including pubs, bars, discos and lounges.
  • Public areas within the Orchard Road precinct

The smoking ban has been further extended over the years and a recent extension in 2022 included public parks and beaches used for recreational activities.

Public education

Public education is intended for the prevention of initiation of smoking/ vaping, as well as for the provision of smoking cessation support services to smokers.

HPB works with community organisations and organises programmes to help smokers to quit smoking. Efforts to raise awareness of smoking-related issues among the general public also include an annual smoking control campaign and always-on marketing efforts via social media.

On World No Tobacco Day, 31st May, through HPB's efforts, many tobacco retailers cease sales of cigarettes in an extraordinary show of support.

Partnerships

Partnerships are key to the successful implementation of HPB's programmes. HPB actively engages educational institutions and stakeholders within its ecosystem, such as teachers and parents to ensure efforts in promoting tobacco-free lifestyles are targeted upstream and reinforced.

To encourage youths to stay smoke and vape-free, the programmes aim to prevent youths from initiating smoking/ vaping and to provide assistance to those who have tried smoking/ vaping to stop as soon as possible.

To raise awareness about the benefits of leading a tobacco-free lifestyle and discourage youth from experimenting with tobacco products, HPB works with the Ministry of Education and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to incorporate anti-tobacco messages into the school curricula. These efforts are complemented with interactive programmes, such as assembly skits and workshops, to raise awareness amongst youth about the benefits of leading a tobacco-free lifestyle and discourage experimentation with tobacco products.

Provision of smoking cessation services

Since the 1990s, smoking cessation services have been integrated into the primary healthcare settings such as the hospitals and polyclinics. These services are also now available in retail pharmacy chains, providing a wide network of accessible smoking cessation services for smokers.

Smokers can sign up for I Quit Programme which empowers them with the knowledge, motivation and support to remain smoke-free throughout the quit journey. I Quit Programme was also enhanced in 2021 from an SMS-based intervention to better support smokers in their quit journey with the following three new features:

1. a triage survey to better understand a smoker's level of nicotine dependence and preferences before recommending a programme for their cessation journey

2. phone counselling via QuitLine and a pilot face-to-face counselling programme at Guardian and Unity pharmacies located islandwide

3. follow-up calls by counsellors from QuitLine for a period of 12 months. The intent of the follow-up is to encourage and motivate participants to remain smoke-free and prevent relapse.

HPB also offers help to youth smokers to quit smoking at schools. Student Health Advisors are deployed at various institutions to provide support and counselling to students on health issues which include tailored counselling for youth smokers in schools. The sessions help youth to understand the harms of smoking and equip them with strategies to cope with withdrawal symptoms and quit the habit.

HPB also manages QuitLine (1800 438-2000*) to provide smoking cessation advice by trained counsellors on how to quit smoking.

For individuals keen on providing smoking cessation counselling, they could sign up for HPB's e-learning module. Through this module, individuals will be equipped with smoking cessation counselling skills, techniques and stay abreast of the trends for substance abuse.

*Kindly note that airtime charges apply for mobile calls to 1800 service lines and calls are free of charge only if made from regular land lines.