Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Reducing Second-hand Smoke Exposure

Question:

Mr David Hoe: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in light of health risks posed by second-hand smoke, whether the Ministry and the Health Promotion Board can consider working with MOH, HDB and Town Councils to pilot public-health innovation challenges or behavioural interventions to reduce second-hand smoke exposure in residential estates, including smoke-free home pledges, cessation nudges, hackathons, and community-designed solutions targeted at households with children, seniors, or vulnerable residents.

Answer:

The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS).

The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms. This includes putting up posters or reminders in residential estates and issuing advisories to surrounding residential units where feedback on SHS is received. These advisories encourage smokers to be considerate to their family members and neighbours, and direct smokers to smoking cessation resources produced by the Health Promotion Board. Where there is smoking in restricted areas of residential blocks, NEA will also take necessary enforcement actions.

We will continue to encourage community-driven efforts to promote considerate behaviour and work with relevant agencies and stakeholders on appropriate approaches to reduce the public’s exposure to SHS.