Coffeeshop merchants concerned about NEA's plans to phase out smoking corners

[General Veers]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="789"><tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" height="26"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="5"> </td> <td colspan="2" valign="top" width="784"> Coffeeshop merchants concerned about NEA's plans to phase out smoking corners
By Ng Lian Cheong/Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 December 2009 1853 hrs
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="260"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" width="20"> </td> <td align="right" width="240">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="60" valign="top"> </td> <td class="update" height="80" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="138">Photos </td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="47">1 of 1</td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" onclick="Prev();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="19"><input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" onclick="Play()" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" height="15" type="image" width="19"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

SINGAPORE: Smoking bans implemented in various areas islandwide have proven to be effective.

Building on this, the authorities intend to phase out smoking corners in outdoor refreshment areas completely.

Public areas like building entrances, playgrounds, and lift lobbies were converted to non-smoking areas early this year and the National Environment Agency has seen a greater compliance to the ban.

The number of warnings and tickets issued dropped from about 4,599 in 2008 to 4,186 in 2009.

Soon, non-airconditioned food centres could also go totally smoke-free.

Currently, 20 per cent of the outdoor refreshment areas is designated for smoking.

But members of coffee shop associations - the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchant Association and the Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants Restaurant and Bar-Owners Association - have expressed concern.

Hong Poh Hin, first vice chairman, Foochow Coffee, Restaurant & Bar Merchant Association, said: "If 100 per cent banned on smoking, it will affect our business by about 10 over percent. So some of the operators feel that they should have a small space for smokers to smoke."

The associations want at least 10 per cent of the space set aside for smoking.

Mr Hong added: "90 over percent of the members propose that smoking areas should be retained. We do have a few per cent of members saying that it can be 100 per cent banned. The reason is that it's easier for them to control the place. When smokers know that this is 100 per cent banned, they will not come in."

The NEA said it will discuss the matter with stakeholders before coming to a decision. - CNA/vm



</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Kid278]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=789 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD colSpan=3 height=26></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=5></TD> <TD vAlign=top width=784 colSpan=2>Coffeeshop merchants concerned about NEA's plans to phase out smoking corners
By Ng Lian Cheong/Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 December 2009 1853 hrs
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD align=right width=20></TD> <TD align=right width=240>

</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top height=60></TD> <TD class=update vAlign=top height=80> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD width=138 bgColor=#f6f6f6>Photos </TD> <TD width=47 bgColor=#f6f6f6>1 of 1</TD> <TD width=18 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=btnPrev disabled onclick=Prev(); type=image height=15 width=18 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" value="<< Previous"></TD> <TD width=19 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=bntPlay onclick=Play() type=image height=15 width=19 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" value="Play - Stop"></TD> <TD width=18 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=btnNext disabled onclick=Next(); type=image height=15 width=18 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" value=" Next >> "></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

SINGAPORE: Smoking bans implemented in various areas islandwide have proven to be effective.

Building on this, the authorities intend to phase out smoking corners in outdoor refreshment areas completely.

Public areas like building entrances, playgrounds, and lift lobbies were converted to non-smoking areas early this year and the National Environment Agency has seen a greater compliance to the ban.

The number of warnings and tickets issued dropped from about 4,599 in 2008 to 4,186 in 2009.

Soon, non-airconditioned food centres could also go totally smoke-free.

Currently, 20 per cent of the outdoor refreshment areas is designated for smoking.

But members of coffee shop associations - the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchant Association and the Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants Restaurant and Bar-Owners Association - have expressed concern.

Hong Poh Hin, first vice chairman, Foochow Coffee, Restaurant & Bar Merchant Association, said: "If 100 per cent banned on smoking, it will affect our business by about 10 over percent. So some of the operators feel that they should have a small space for smokers to smoke."

The associations want at least 10 per cent of the space set aside for smoking.

Mr Hong added: "90 over percent of the members propose that smoking areas should be retained. We do have a few per cent of members saying that it can be 100 per cent banned. The reason is that it's easier for them to control the place. When smokers know that this is 100 per cent banned, they will not come in."

The NEA said it will discuss the matter with stakeholders before coming to a decision. - CNA/vm



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Everybody dies whether you smoke or dont smoke. Just because smokers is a minoirty, these brutal bastards are leaving us no place to go. Well, keep pushing, you wont live longer either.....what goes around comes around.:(

 

[singveld]

in one hand PAP tax the cigarette, and get massive amount of taxes.

on the other hand, they limit where they can smoke.

 

[SneeringTree]

in one hand PAP tax the cigarette, and get massive amount of taxes.

on the other hand, they limit where they can smoke.

The simple solution, for brain-damaged smokers too dumb to see it, to solve both problems (of PAP taxing on cigarettes and limiting smoking spaces), is to stop smoking.

 

[SneeringTree]

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Everybody dies whether you smoke or dont smoke. Just because smokers is a minoirty, these brutal bastards are leaving us no place to go. Well, keep pushing, you wont live longer either.....what goes around comes around.:(

You might as well jump off a cliff now, if everyone dies sooner or later. Just stop smoking, many smokers have, why can't you? You niccotine addict.

 

[halsey02]

The simple solution, for brain-damaged smokers too dumb to see it, to solve both problems (of PAP taxing on cigarettes and limiting smoking spaces), is to stop smoking.

They should burn their votes...since they have to pay so much taxes to smoke to death, pay so much for healthcare, which in return have a 'eye' on their CPF savings...

The smoker's should unite & ignite the fire & smoke the votes!! ha ha ha

 

[General Veers]

Oh dear! Smokers against non smokers. Is sammyboy going to have a smokers corner too?

 

[po2wq]

ah nea says ...

if u smoke, dun even let u drink kopi outside! ...

 

[MarrickG]

Might as well ban smoking in all public places, which means can't smoke anywhere except within your own house.

 

[Ramseth]

in one hand PAP tax the cigarette, and get massive amount of taxes.

on the other hand, they limit where they can smoke.

This is the classic double-dip. Tax the cigarette heavily for the first dip, then limit where the smoker smokes for the second dip. If there's no limit by law, how to inconvenience and tempt the smoker into breaking the law and get fined? When the fine income dwindles (i.e. less and less smokers smoke in non-smoking areas) they have to constrict the areas to tempt more into breaking the law outside the areas. If they're sincere about having a smoke-free environment, simply ban tobacco imports and sales, just like they ban narcotics and even chewing gum.

 

[jw5]

This is the classic double-dip. Tax the cigarette heavily for the first dip, then limit where the smoker smokes for the second dip. If there's no limit by law, how to inconvenience and tempt the smoker into breaking the law and get fined? When the fine income dwindles (i.e. less and less smokers smoke in non-smoking areas) they have to constrict the areas to tempt more into breaking the law outside the areas. If they're sincere about having a smoke-free environment, simply ban tobacco imports and sales, just like they ban narcotics and even chewing gum.

And what do you think should be the penalty for trafficking cigarettes and other tobacco products? Death?

 

[Ramseth]

And what do you think should be the penalty for trafficking cigarettes and other tobacco products? Death?

Somewhere in between trafficking narcotics and trafficking chewing gums.