Singapore to ban smoking in parks and reservoirs
SINGAPORE -- It looks like smokers will need to find a new hangout spot from mid-year onwards. Government-banned smoking areas will include 400 parks and 17 reservoirs islandwide starting June 1.
The announcement was made by the senior minister of state for the environment and water resources, Amy Khor, during a parliamentary meeting Tuesday. The goal is a smoke-free Singapore, Khor said.
The parks and reservoirs, which are not publicly-owned, could have designated smoking areas, but setting up such boundaries would be up to the private owners.
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To ease smokers into the new ban, those caught smoking in the newly prohibited areas will get a warning during the first three months. Repeated offenders will face a fine of up to S$2,000 ($1,486).
Currently, there are 32,000 premises and locations in the country where smoking is prohibited.
According to Channel News Asia, Khor pointed out that cigarette butts are one of the most commonly littered items in Singapore.
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