Smoking banned at all parks, 10 beaches and PUB sites from Jul 1

Over 90 more places, including parks, beaches and Public Utilities Board (PUB) sites, will be added to Singapore’s list of no-smoking spots from Jul 1, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on Monday (Mar 7).

Speaking during the Committee of Supply Debate, she said: “With this extension, Singaporeans can enjoy these shared recreational sites without exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.”

To date, the ban list covers more than 49,000 premises including entertainment outlets, common areas in residential buildings, several neighbourhood parks and nature reserves.

The new ban extension covers all remaining public parks, ten recreational beaches and sites managed by national water agency PUB under its active, beautiful and clean waters programme.

The beaches on the list are at Changi, East and West Coast, Sembawang, Pasir Ris, Coney Island, Punggol, as well as Sentosa’s Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches.

Dr Khor said posters and banners will be put up at these areas to remind the public of the upcoming rules. 

In a joint statement, the National Environmental Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks), PUB and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said that those caught smoking in these areas in the first three months from July will receive a warning. 

Subsequently, enforcement actions will take effect from Oct 1.

In the meantime, designated smoking areas will be provided in some larger regional parks to allow smokers to adjust to smoke-free parks, as well as within the vicinity of the three beaches in Sentosa.

After the ban kicks in on Jul 1, she said smokers will still largely be able to light up at designated smoking areas and open public spaces like uncovered walkways, even in their private homes.

“We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of (designated smoking points) as localised solutions, even as we work with the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board to discourage smoking at home,” Dr Khor said.