INCREASING NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG YOUTHS (Plans to reverse trend)

Mr Loh Meng See asked the Minister for Health what are his Ministry's plans to reverse the trend in the increasing number of smokers among our youths.

The Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry's Smoking Control Programme has a two-pronged strategy - education and legislation.

As education is the key to the prevention of smoking, my Ministry plans to step up the education of youths against smoking. Smoking education is included in the health education curriculum of primary schools, and the science curriculum and the new physical education syllabus of secondary schools.

My Ministry will also conduct more exhibitions and talks and expand the smoking education component in the healthy lifestyle programmes in schools, Institutes of Technical Education (ITE) and other educational institutions. We will also work with youth organisations to reach out to youths in the community.

In addition, my Ministry will work with the Singapore Cancer Society and the Youngberg Hospital to increase the reach of their smoking cessation programmes for young people in schools and workplaces.

My Ministry will continue to provide smoking education in the workplaces. We will assist companies interested in becoming smoke-free and help them conduct smoking cessation programmes.

We will also continue to use the mass media to educate the public and youths on the harmful effects of tobacco and to deglamourise smoking.

As part of the plan to prevent the young from taking up smoking, my Ministry will be introducing legislation to prohibit the sale, giving or furnishing of any tobacco product to any person below the age of 18 years. We are also studying legislation enacted by other countries and their effectiveness in controlling smoking amongst youths.

Mr Loh Meng See: Sir, I did not hear from the Minister that there will be a possible ban on smoking in public places for these under-18 youths. Can he confirm that?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, that option is also under consideration. We are now looking at the legislation enacted by Canada earlier this year which includes the ban on smoking in public places by youths. We are following up to see how they have coped with the issues posed by such a ban and we would, if feasible, introduce that in Singapore as well.

Mr Loh Meng See: Sir, when the Ministry considers the enforcement of a ban on smoking in public places for the under-18 youths, will it be such that there will not be the social stigma of treating them as criminals, and could some lenient measures be considered in the legislation?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, we will bear in mind the points raised by Mr Loh when we consider the legislation.