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S’pore should take small steps to total tobacco ban

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is encouraged that many readers have written to Voices to take a common stand against tobacco and its use.

The writer lauds the authorities’ efforts to ban shisha, and says there are pay-offs from a total tobacco ban. TODAY file photo

The writer lauds the authorities’ efforts to ban shisha, and says there are pay-offs from a total tobacco ban. TODAY file photo

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Albert L H Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cancer Society

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is encouraged that many readers have written to Voices to take a common stand against tobacco and its use.

Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer and is responsible for more than 90 per cent of lung cancer cases here. Among all cancers, lung cancer has the highest mortality rate.

Between 2009 and 2013, about 1,300 people, on average, were diagnosed with lung cancer yearly. This number is increasing. As the SCS’ goal is to “minimise cancer and maximise life”, we oppose all tobacco-related products and their use.

We advocate that Singapore’s continuing war on tobacco be intensified and coordinated at all levels of society, using every available tool and strategy.

Many Singaporeans recognise the health consequences of tobacco use. Opinions vary, however, about how to manage, minimise and eventually eradicate tobacco.

A common suggestion readers had was to impose an outright ban (“Smoking is bad for health: Why is it not banned?”, June 27; “Easier to tackle smuggling if cigarettes were banned”, June 30). We echo this sentiment.

Smoking harms not only the smoker but everyone in close proximity because of second-hand and third-hand smoke, not forgetting its social, financial and medical impact on families and society (“Ban on tobacco would lead to better health, savings on medical costs”; July 2).

We acknowledge nevertheless that a total ban may not be immediately feasible because of economic, social and regulatory reasons.

However, as emphasised in “Coordinated approach, not outright ban, needed to address smoking” (June 30), these reasons should not prevent us from making a paradigm shift via incremental steps towards banishing tobacco from our shores.

The pay-offs from a total ban would far outweigh the status quo. To this end, we applaud the authorities’ efforts to ban shisha, point-of-sale displays and emerging tobacco products. We also appreciate the availability of programmes to help smokers quit.

Although past efforts such as taxing tobacco, limiting opportunities to smoke and banning tobacco marketing have enabled Singapore to achieve a low adult smoking rate of 13.3 per cent, this will plateau, as smoking addicts have been undeterred.

Along with increased penalties for flouting tobacco laws, steps can be taken to further restrict and reduce accessibility to tobacco and opportunities for its use in public spaces, especially where non-smokers are exposed indiscriminately and wilfully to tobacco’s harmful effects.

Further steps must also be taken to discourage youths from taking up smoking. The choice, for or against tobacco, involves both health and lifestyle considerations. Where tobacco users choose to continue its use, steps can be taken to educate people in schools and workplaces, and empower Singaporeans who do not use tobacco to assert their right to clean air.

The eradication of tobacco and its use can happen only when every member of society recognises that each bears full responsibility for his or her health. In exercising our individual right to choose, however, each also bears the obligation to act responsibly without endangering the health of others.

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