No-smoking rules have to go along with personal and communal efforts to help smokers quit

I read the report, “NEA officers to get greater powers to enforce no-smoking rules, S’pore could get more no-smoking zones” (Sept 10), and was disturbed that some officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been physically and verbally abused while carrying out their work.

The Bill to amend the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act should signal to offenders that they are the ones who have committed an offence, and they should respect these officers on duty.

My family cannot stand second-hand smoke, but we have to live with the condition that smoke can enter our residence as our neighbours cannot stop their habits.

Smoking is an addiction that does not benefit anyone, especially the smokers' family members.

Living together as a community, we should be civil and respectful of each other's conditions and enjoy the social space we share.

I think a smoking ban at home is unlikely to work because it is a private space.

What we need is for everyone to have a matured and sensible discussion, and agree on how Singapore can be a better home for all.

Statistics have shown that children pick up smoking when a family member smokes. This gives them access to cigarettes and also the perception that smoking is accepted at home and by their families.

It is also common to see secondary school students sharing cigarettes at children's playgrounds.

Rather than having a ban on smoking at home which may not be possible to enforce, or worse, lead to a witch-hunt that destroys neighbourly ties, we could actively encourage smokers to quit and do our part to not influence young people to smoke.

News on active citizenry shows that we can make a difference if we love our community, such as in the case of reckless riding (“Reckless cyclists, PMD users spur Braddell Heights, Tanjong Rhu residents into action”; Sept 12).

We need to raise civic consciousness on the matter.

Addictions are hard to quit and we should be empathetic towards smokers that they find it tough to stop, despite the heavy tax on tobacco.

I hope those who have successfully done so can offer ways to help others stop smoking, or stakeholders and volunteers may be willing to step forward to offer free smoking-cessation clinics, support groups and quit-smoking kits, or run public awareness and education outreach in school.

Just a gentle reminder to our neighbours that there are healthier ways to relieve stress than to smoke may also help.