Minimum Age to Smoke Increasing to 19 from 1 Jan 2019 & Will Progressively Increase

The year is 2021. Finally, after what seems like forever, Goody Feed (especially that annoying app) is banned because it’s so trashy, and everyone who once worked in Goody Feed is now selling toilet paper at hawker centre—a wish come true for many Singaporeans.

So, you go to a 7-Eleven to buy a pack of cigarette to celebrate.

“Pall Mall Chill,” you said, your eyes on the Goody Feed app that says ‘We are sorry for all the trashy contents we’ve been coming out in the last few years, goodbye and we’ll see you soon’.

“Sir, can I have your IC please?”

You smirked, happy that you look 18. When the sales assistant looked at your IC, she shook her head and muttered, “Sorry sir, you’re below the minimum age. We can’t sell that to you.”

“WHAT?! I’M 20 FFS! YOU FAIL YOUR MATHS OR WHAT? GOODY FEED SAYS MIN AGE IS 19!”

The sales assistant then pointed at a sign that says, “Minimum Age to Buy Cigarettes: 21”

“No wonder Goody Feed kena banned,” you mumbled.

“No, sir, Goody Feed is right.”

Wait, what?

Read on and you’ll understand.

Minimum Legal Age to Smoke Will be 19 from 1 January 2019

Lest you’re not aware, last year, it’s announced that the Tobacco Act (i.e. the law that’s related to smoking) will be amended—from 1 February 2018, buying, using or possessing e-cigarettes, shisha and chewing tobacco would be illegal.

The new law also states eventually, the minimum age to smoke will be 21, but this will come in stages.

On 1 January 2019, the minimum age will be 19.

On 1 January 2020, the minimum age will be 20.

And come 1 January 2021, the minimum age will be set at 21.

The reason for the amended law is to “further reduce opportunities for youths to take up smoking before they turn 21” and to “better protect our population from the harms of emerging and imitation tobacco products.”

Well, this effectively means that more NSFs are going to get Gold for their IPPTs, and the “three times a day” smoking breaks during BMT would be removed.

Reminder

Of course everyone would have forgotten about this until MOH releases a press release, and Channel NewsAsia picks it up.

MOH says, “Raising the MLA (minimum legal age) is part of the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s ongoing efforts to enhance public health and reduce smoking prevalence in Singapore…It aims to prevent youth from picking up smoking by limiting access to tobacco products, and to further de-normalise smoking particularly for those below 21.”

And let’s just say that the authorities are really serious about keeping Singapore smoke-free.

Ban in Orchard Road + NEA Officers on the Ball

If you’ve been coming into our app daily (you really should), you’ll know that Orchard Road is banning smoking come 1 January 2019 as well, and NEA officers have been appearing out of nowhere to catch smokers smoking in non-designated smoking area.

In addition, by 2020, cigarette boxes would look scarier with 75% of the box showing the ill effects of smoking (you know, the rotten gums or whatnot).

Well, if you’re smoker, time to stop smoking, no?

#saysoeasydosohard