2,000 food outlets apply for smoking area ahead of new rules on July 1
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/216152/1/.html====================================
-i'm sorry sir/ma'am, this is a non-smoking area-
Under new regulations, smokers are not allowed to light up in 3,500 eateries which have no outdoor refreshment areas. Many owners have complained that this is bad for business as many of their customers are smokers and if they cannot smoke on the premises they would not patronise the eatery anymore.
I personally think that the owners' complains just show the severity of the problem because it indicates that many people smoke in Singapore. The new ban on smoking will hopefully help to reduce the numbers of smokers. I think that if people really do want to patronise the restaurant or eatery they might consider not smoking. However, even before the new rules have come into play, many eateries have applied for smoking areas so that they can keep their customers who like to smoke. Owners think that if they have an area specially for smoking, this will allow them to keep their customes. But this defeats the purpose of the smoking ban because by having a smoking area, this encourages smokers to continue smoking. If more eateries remained non-smoking, then it would be better because it would mean that smokers would not be able to visit their favourite restaurant especially if they planned to smoke before or after their meal.
I think that this new rule of non-smoking is good because it is for the greater good of the general public. Those non-smokers will not inhale too much second hand smoke and the chances of them being affected by other smokers is lowered, especially in non-smoking areas. Hopefully current smokers will come to realise that smoking is seriously not good for the health and cut down. This will also improve their health if they do decide to cut down.
I feel that this new non-smoking rule could not come any sooner because people have to start caring for their own health. Especially in a country like Singapore where our only natural resource is our population. If Singapore does not have a healthy population, this spells bad news for our future. -- DE
posted by silvanix @ 5:44 AM
1 Comments:
While, understandably, it is a good idea to ban smoking from public places, one must consider the feasibility of such an undertaking.
There have already been people openly flouting these new regulations, as they are not met with the necessary resistance.
Perhaps it will be for the greater good of Singaporeans if there can be a greater level of enforcement. In any society, laws must be enforced. Even in a generally law-abiding society like Singapore, there are times where new regulations have to be put in place and backed up with the necessary use of police presence and legislature.
Ryan.
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