Pushing for a Smoke-Free Home Policy in Singapore for World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day 2024

Every year May 31st marks World No Tobacco Day, a day to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco on health. Despite lung cancer being the leading killer in Singapore, this day often fails to receive adequate attention in the country. In recent years, while there has been an increase in government smoking bans in public places, there has been limited progress in home smoking control and protecting the rights of non-smokers.

The Need for a Smoke-Free Home Policy

This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme is “Protect children from tobacco industry interference.” In Singapore, the rate of e-cigarette use among youth has increased significantly in the past five years. According to a 2022 survey, youth use of e-cigarettes increased from 4.3% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2021. This trend highlights the importance of strengthening measures to protect children’s health.

Smoke-free homes are the first line of defense against tobacco harm. Homes in Singapore serve a wide range of purposes, not only as living spaces but also for home-based learning (HBL), work from home (WFH), home offices, and even as “hospital-at-home” (HaH) during the COVID period for home-based recovery. Therefore, maintaining a smoke-free environment is crucial for preventing tobacco-related harm.

According to 2019 data, secondhand smoke causes approximately 296 deaths in Singapore. The World Health Organization (WHO) also points out that secondhand smoke kills over 600,000 non-smokers worldwide each year. As a highly urbanized country, Singapore’s problem of smoking in homes is particularly serious and requires more attention and awareness.

Current Gaps in Smoke-Free Home Policy

Singapore faces significant challenges in addressing tobacco harm within homes. These challenges stem from gaps in governance and a lack of coordination among different ministries. Here are the key issues:

1. Shift in Secondhand Smoke Exposure: The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) has expanded smoke-free zones in public places. However, this policy shift has inadvertently increased exposure to secondhand smoke within home environments as smokers are forced to smoke at home. Residents now face heightened health risks due to this shift.
2. Health Promotion Board (HPB): While the HPB has made commendable efforts to reduce salt and sugar intake, it has not given equal attention to curbing smoking. Smoking poses severe health risks, and addressing nicotine addiction should be a priority.
3. Ministry of Health (MOH): The MOH needs to focus on nicotine addiction, especially among smokers who pose a public health threat in the housing environment. Adequate measures to address addiction and promote smoking cessation are essential.
4. Housing and Development Board (HDB): The HDB lacks the power to address secondhand smoke disputes in neighborhoods effectively. Additionally, HDB lacks sufficient awareness regarding thirdhand smoke pollution in homes. Protecting residents’ health rights requires stronger action.
5. Ministry of Law: Smokers who damage victims’ health and inconvenience victims’ lives by their excessive smoking are not held accountable legally. Victims struggle to obtain legal protection, as the Ministry of Law has not enforced penalties against violators.
6. Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT): CDRT decisions are ineffective in addressing home smoking issues due to the absence of clear regulations and enforcement mechanisms. Victims often resort to time-consuming and expensive lawsuits with unsatisfactory outcomes.

Singapore Lacks Support for Tobacco Harm Victims

Singapore lacks a tobacco harm victim support organization like the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) in the United States, which actively advocates for non-smokers’ rights for victims. Local secondhand smoke victims, unfortunately, are left to fend for themselves, often feeling isolated and unsupported. Moreover, local victims lack representative support. Among the many Members of Parliament, only MP Louis Ng Kok Kwang from Nee Soon East has tirelessly raised his voice in Parliament for home smoking victims, while other MPs, including the opposition party, avoid discussing this issue.

Call for a Comprehensive Smoke-Free Home Policy

Smoke-free homes are a global trend and an effective way to protect public health, improve quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs. We urge Singapore’s new Prime Minister to pay high attention to this long-standing public health issue and take decisive action to implement a smoke-free home policy fully.

To achieve this, the government should immediately establish a comprehensive policy framework, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, establish focus groups to directly listen to the experiences and voices of tobacco harm victims, collect feedback, summarize experiences, and develop more effective solutions. For example, increase enforcement of bans on violators, provide support assistance to victims, etc.

Through these measures, Singapore can not only better protect the health of children and non-smokers but also set an example for global tobacco control efforts. Let’s hope this World No Tobacco Day is a turning point, propelling Singapore towards a healthier and safer future.