HPB mulls raising minimum age for smoking
SINGAPORE — The Health Promotion Board (HPB) is studying the possibility of raising the minimum age for smokers, among a series of measures it is considering to lower the prevalence of smoking in Singapore.
SINGAPORE — The Health Promotion Board (HPB) is studying the possibility of raising the minimum age for smokers, among a series of measures it is considering to lower the prevalence of smoking in Singapore.
The current legal age to smoke is 18.
This follows the increase in the number smokers who quit smoking after the third-run of the national anti-smoking campaign last year.
In statistics revealed by the HPB today (May 20), 14 per cent of some 3,400 participants who signed up for the I Quit campaign last year stopped smoking after six months. This is an increase from about 10 per cent of some 1,500 participants who quit smoking following the 2011 campaign.
Ms Vasuki Utravathy, Deputy Director of Substance Abuse with HPB attributed this to the growing momentum of the campaign and shared experiences of ex-smokers.
She added: “When we have ex-smokers fronting the campaign for us, being the voice of the campaign, it really pushes things forward.”
Last year’s campaign also involved a 28-day challenge for smokers to stay smoke-free.