Monday July 10, 2006

Smoking ban at eateries takes effect

FIVE men sit on plastic chairs huddled around a pillar outside the hawker centre at Block 85 in Redhill Lane – smoking.

The concrete base of the pillar serves as a table for their four cups of tea and a bottle of beer. The food centre is far from packed, but this is the only way they can continue their nightly get-togethers these days.

On July 1, the National Environment Agency (NEA) barred smoking in all food outlets – air-conditioned or otherwise – except in designated areas. These smoking zones can occupy no more than 20% of the outdoor seating.

The ban marks the latest in a string of initiatives aimed at combating the problem of second-hand smoke. Smoking was first outlawed in bus shelters and interchanges, public pools and toilets, community clubs and open-air stadiums last October. Pubs and clubs will be next come July 1 next year.

Those who flout the law can be fined S$200 (RM460). In the first few days of the ban, five offending smokers were made to pay up after refusing to heed warnings by NEA officers to stub out. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network

News Poll

Latest Jobs from Star-Jobs

Latest from StarProperty