Enforcement officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) wearing white No Smoking Zone polo T-shirts patrol one of the most popular shopping destinations in the world to ensure the law is respected. During the first three months of the ban, from January till the end of March, smokers will be only given a warning and directed to the designated smoking areas without fining. From April, all offenders will be punished.
While 40 smoking areas has been equipped along the Orchard Road, smokers complain that they are set to far apart from each other. On the positive side for the smokers is that each DSA is clearly marked with signs and equipped with ashtrays. There are direction indicatiors to DSAs along the Orchard Road; hotels and malls offer leaflets with DSAs' map making it easy to find the area where smoking is allowed. Several hotels in the district joined the no-smoking program and are now smoke-free premises.
The authorities believe that in the long-run perspective this smoking ban will help improve cardiovascular health of the population and lead to fewer deaths from smoking related illnesses.
Orchard Road Is Now Smoke-Free
News in Asia
Smoking ban for the famous Prchrd Road in Singapore kicks in. The precinct-wide smoking ban effective from January, 1st, prohibits smoking to locals and tourists in public areas except within designated smoking areas.