Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on No-smoking Buffer Zones

Question:

To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether the Ministry will consider expanding the current no-smoking buffer zones from five metres to at least 10 metres; and (b) whether the Ministry will study the feasibility of restricting smoking in public only at clearly marked Designated Smoking Areas similar to the approach in Tokyo.

Answer:

1 The five-metre buffer distance was determined with reference to local and international standards for the intake of ambient air into buildings, and is comparable to buffer distances implemented overseas. There are currently no plans to expand the five-metre buffer distance.

2 Currently, smoking is restricted to Designated Smoking Areas within smoking-prohibited places such as the Orchard Road No Smoking Zone. In other parts of Singapore, smoking is prohibited in places such as covered and underground pedestrian walkways, playgrounds and void decks. My Ministry will continue to review our policies on smoking prohibition from time to time.