<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>More youth puff on illegal smokes
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
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More underage youth have been caught smoking and peddling illegal cigarettes, according to the Singapore Customs. The exact figures were released at the World No Tobacco Day roadshow held at Bugis Junction. Members of the public were invited to guess the number of illegal cigarettes in a plastic box to win prizes.
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The allure could be its cheaper cost.
Illegal cigarettes - where no taxes are paid and which are smuggled in - could be half the price of duty-paid smokes.
That could explain why more people below age 18 are puffing on contraband cigarettes. Last year, 656 youth were busted, up from 649 in 2007.
In the first four months of this year, 153 youth have been nabbed.
There has also been a spike in the number of underage youth caught peddling illegal cigarettes - from two in 2007 to 11 last year. In the first four months of this year, two were caught.
These figures were released by Singapore Customs at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction yesterday.
'The prevalence of youth caught with illegal cigarettes remains a concern. Not just because cigarettes are harmful, underage youth caught with them are also committing serious Customs offences,' said a Customs spokesman.
It is also concerned that these young people, lured by the prospect of earning quick cash, may be exploited by syndicates to sell cigarettes.
In the first five months of this year, the Customs closed 455 cases and seized 1.6 million packets.
In the first four months of this year, 2,524 people have been caught for buying illegal cigarettes and 201 caught for peddling them.
Bedok, Jurong, Woodlands, Yew Tee and Geylang have been identified as peddling hot spots and inspectors make daily patrols.
Customs director-general Fong Yong Kian said those caught distributing, possessing and selling illegal cigarettes fell by 13 per cent between 2007 and 2008.
'We believe that the situation has been well-contained. But we're concerned that the availability of cheap illegal cigarettes on the streets would hamper the national effort to quit smoking,' he said.
Besides being fined a minimum of $500 for every illegal cigarette pack, youth offenders also undergo a counselling session with a Customs officer. Parents or guardians and the school are notified to prevent a repeat offence.
The Customs warns that dealing with contraband cigarettes is a serious matter and offenders will face a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 20 times the GST and duty evaded.
<HR SIZE=1 width="50%">
THE GREAT SINGAPORE STUB-OUT
The country's smoking ban has consistently widened since the 1970s.
October 1970: Buses, cinemas, theatres
March 1973: Lifts
October 1982: Amusement centres
July 1988: Hospitals, maternity homes, medical clinics and nursing homes, indoor areas of fast-food outlets, indoor ice-skating rinks, roller-skating rinks and roller discotheques
September 1989: Select air-conditioned department stores, supermarkets, air-conditioned restaurants, public libraries, museums and art galleries, convention halls, ballrooms, bowling alleys, billiard saloons, gyms and fitness centres
April 1992: Private buses, school buses and taxis, air-conditioned hair salons and barber shops, as well as banks
December 1992: The Supreme Court, Subordinate Courts and Small Claims Tribunals
September 1994: Air-conditioned offices, factory floors, enclosed or air-conditioned common areas of private residential premises
March 1995: Changi Airport terminal buildings
December 1995: Shopping centres, underground pedestrian walkways and queues in public places
August 1997: Selected air-conditioned areas and facilities in private clubs, schools, polytechnics, junior colleges and Institutes of Technical Education, enclosed or air-conditioned areas of universities
October 2005: Public toilets, bus interchanges/shelters, swimming pools, community centres/clubs, stadiums
July 2006: Coffee shops, non-air-conditioned food shops and hawker centres
July 2007: Entertainment outlets, with a complete indoor ban except in specially ventilated smoking areas January 2009: Non-air-conditioned workplaces and public places, including markets, underground and multi-storey carparks, ferry terminals and jetties, non-air-conditioned shops, shopping complexes, offices, factories and lift lobbies, as well as children's playgrounds and exercise areas, including fitness corners, basketball courts and badminton courts
I shopping donch need $ ah? *Grrr...*
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
More underage youth have been caught smoking and peddling illegal cigarettes, according to the Singapore Customs. The exact figures were released at the World No Tobacco Day roadshow held at Bugis Junction. Members of the public were invited to guess the number of illegal cigarettes in a plastic box to win prizes.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The allure could be its cheaper cost.
Illegal cigarettes - where no taxes are paid and which are smuggled in - could be half the price of duty-paid smokes.
That could explain why more people below age 18 are puffing on contraband cigarettes. Last year, 656 youth were busted, up from 649 in 2007.
In the first four months of this year, 153 youth have been nabbed.
There has also been a spike in the number of underage youth caught peddling illegal cigarettes - from two in 2007 to 11 last year. In the first four months of this year, two were caught.
These figures were released by Singapore Customs at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction yesterday.
'The prevalence of youth caught with illegal cigarettes remains a concern. Not just because cigarettes are harmful, underage youth caught with them are also committing serious Customs offences,' said a Customs spokesman.
It is also concerned that these young people, lured by the prospect of earning quick cash, may be exploited by syndicates to sell cigarettes.
In the first five months of this year, the Customs closed 455 cases and seized 1.6 million packets.
In the first four months of this year, 2,524 people have been caught for buying illegal cigarettes and 201 caught for peddling them.
Bedok, Jurong, Woodlands, Yew Tee and Geylang have been identified as peddling hot spots and inspectors make daily patrols.
Customs director-general Fong Yong Kian said those caught distributing, possessing and selling illegal cigarettes fell by 13 per cent between 2007 and 2008.
'We believe that the situation has been well-contained. But we're concerned that the availability of cheap illegal cigarettes on the streets would hamper the national effort to quit smoking,' he said.
Besides being fined a minimum of $500 for every illegal cigarette pack, youth offenders also undergo a counselling session with a Customs officer. Parents or guardians and the school are notified to prevent a repeat offence.
The Customs warns that dealing with contraband cigarettes is a serious matter and offenders will face a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 20 times the GST and duty evaded.
<HR SIZE=1 width="50%">
THE GREAT SINGAPORE STUB-OUT
The country's smoking ban has consistently widened since the 1970s.
October 1970: Buses, cinemas, theatres
March 1973: Lifts
October 1982: Amusement centres
July 1988: Hospitals, maternity homes, medical clinics and nursing homes, indoor areas of fast-food outlets, indoor ice-skating rinks, roller-skating rinks and roller discotheques
September 1989: Select air-conditioned department stores, supermarkets, air-conditioned restaurants, public libraries, museums and art galleries, convention halls, ballrooms, bowling alleys, billiard saloons, gyms and fitness centres
April 1992: Private buses, school buses and taxis, air-conditioned hair salons and barber shops, as well as banks
December 1992: The Supreme Court, Subordinate Courts and Small Claims Tribunals
September 1994: Air-conditioned offices, factory floors, enclosed or air-conditioned common areas of private residential premises
March 1995: Changi Airport terminal buildings
December 1995: Shopping centres, underground pedestrian walkways and queues in public places
August 1997: Selected air-conditioned areas and facilities in private clubs, schools, polytechnics, junior colleges and Institutes of Technical Education, enclosed or air-conditioned areas of universities
October 2005: Public toilets, bus interchanges/shelters, swimming pools, community centres/clubs, stadiums
July 2006: Coffee shops, non-air-conditioned food shops and hawker centres
July 2007: Entertainment outlets, with a complete indoor ban except in specially ventilated smoking areas January 2009: Non-air-conditioned workplaces and public places, including markets, underground and multi-storey carparks, ferry terminals and jetties, non-air-conditioned shops, shopping complexes, offices, factories and lift lobbies, as well as children's playgrounds and exercise areas, including fitness corners, basketball courts and badminton courts
I shopping donch need $ ah? *Grrr...*
