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As 2019 entered, Orchard Road becomes a smoke-free zone that prohibits cigarette smoking to more than 40 designated areas or stations only. The initiatives from last year are being put into effect.

This policy contributes to the environment and to the health of the people who go to the shopping district. In addition, this policy limits the practice of smoking to younger ones.

Straits Times reported that the Ministry of Health released a press statement about the minimum legal age for the purchase, use, possession, sale and distribution of tobacco products which will be increased from 18 to 19 years old starting January 1.

The goal of this is to limit the age of smokers in Singapore to 21 years old until 2021.

Since the smoking corners are removed in eateries along the Orchard Road, National Environment Agency (NEA) hopes to slowly lessen the smoking in the city with enforcement officers and officers issuing verbal warnings at least during the first three months of the ban.

Starting this April 1 of this year, stricter law enforcement will be implemented.

Aside from this, the NEA will be installing surveillance cameras on selected areas where there is still questionable activity along the no-smoking zone.

Underage smokers will have fine up to SGD 300. Meanwhile, there will be a minimum fine of SGD 500 for the first offense, and SGD 1,000 for subsequent offence for those who will be caught giving tobacco to a person below the smoking age limit.

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