SMOKING IN PUBS (Banning)

Column No : 1245

SMOKING IN PUBS:

(Banning): 2.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Government will consider banning smoking in pubs.

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government regularly reviews the list of places where smoking is prohibited. The National Environment Agency (NEA) is currently reviewing the list of places which are not covered under the current smoking ban. These places include not just pubs, but also bus shelters, bus interchanges, public toilets, hawker centres and coffeeshops. Some members of the public have given feedback on banning smoking in places like pubs, hawker centres and coffeeshops. NEA will be studying the issues carefully, and conduct consultation with the public and businesses before a decision is made.

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): Sir, may I ask the Minister whether it is correct that studies have shown that smoking in the smoke of others increases the risk of lung cancer by 20-30% and heart diseases by 25-30%? Is it not a fact that environmental tobacco smoke contains approximately 4,000 chemicals that cause health hazard. Has there been measurement done on the environmental tobacco smoke level in our pubs here? Should the Minister endeavour to better protect the health of non-smokers in public places? Should he not highlight to businessmen on the successful experiences of other countries and smoke-free pubs, especially those that have managed to attract more non-smoking customers that loathe the stink of nicotine and health hazards?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I cannot confirm the figures mentioned by the Member but the point that she is making, which is widely accepted by the health community, is that passive smoking does increase the risk of getting diseases such as cancer.

On the point as to whether or not we should protect non-smokers, I agree entirely with her that we should protect non-smokers and that is why we are reviewing the places which are not covered under the current smoking ban. But we will also have to bear in mind that we have to consult widely both the public and the businesses. That is why I mentioned in my reply earlier that the businesses will be consulted because they also have to be made to understand that if we move, this should not affect them adversely but, at the same time, we want them to be a responsible partner in the move to encourage people not to smoke and take up healthy lifestyles.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, I would urge the Minister to look actively at banning smoking in those places where there are many young children, especially at hawker centres and eating houses. I am a passive smoker. My mother has passed away but my father is an active smoker. It is very easy for a passive smoker to become a smoker because you are used to the smoke. I would like the Ministry to actively look into banning smoking in such public places.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, again, I would like to thank the Member because we do have evidence to show that non-smokers, who are exposed to the smoking environment, will eventually pick up the smoking habit and this is something that we want to prevent. As I mentioned in my reply, we will consult and consider all the issues carefully before we move because there are implications. We will finish the study before we make a decision.

Dr Lily Neo: Sir, earlier on, I asked on the environmental tobacco smoke level measurement. Could the Minister address that question, please?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: My apologies, Sir. I do not have the answer to that. Let me check whether we have done the test or not. This is something that is done jointly by my Ministry together with the Ministry of Health. I will check and if the information is available, I will pass it on to the Member.