Singapore: Retailers to Suspend Cigarette Sales on Friday to Mark World No Tobacco Day

Source from:  Channel News Asia 05/31/2013

Step into a coffee shop or a supermarket on Friday, and chances are you wouldn't be able to buy cigarettes.

Major supermarket chains like Cold Storage, Giant, Sheng Siong and NTUC Fairprice and some 145 retailers will suspend tobacco sales as part of World No Tobacco Day.

Joining in this effort is supermarket giant NTUC FairPrice, which has a  network of over 230 outlets across the island.

Retailers that voluntarily support the movement will display posters to cover up their tobacco display.

Customers will receive Blue Ribbon Magnetic Bookmarks instead of cigarettes.

The initiative is aimed at highlighting the negative health effects of smoking.

Since the movement started in Singapore in 2011, more small retailers have joined in the cause.

One coffee shop in Geylang is taking part in the initiative for the second year.

Its owner said suspending cigarette sales has not affected his business much, but the product is something certain customers still can't do without.

Tan Biing Yan, owner of Sin Wah Hong Coffee Shop, said: "I tell you cigarette is a small part... actually what we are doing now is for the next generation, to show them that smoking is not good, to tell them that is not the culture anymore."

Assoc Prof Muhd Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Health, said: "We begin to see more and more small retailers coming on board. This is very significant because with more of them coming on board, it shows that the business community understands the impact of smoking and would like to play a role. At the same time, it also shows they care for the health condition of their fellow Singaporeans."

The prevalence of smoking in Singapore has risen from 12.6 per cent in 2004 to 14.3 per cent in 2010.

The Health Promotion Board wants to bring down smoking rates to less than 10 per cent by 2020.

The Ministry of Health is looking at the possibility of banning point-of-sale display of tobacco products in stores. This means that retailers may not be able to openly display cigarettes for sale. Customers will have to ask for tobacco products.

Views from the public will be sought on this initiative. Enditem