Ending the tobacco scourge

Prof Chia Kee Seng, Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS and Dr Kenneth Warner, from the University of Michigan opined it is key to recognise that no single element works in isolation to reduce smoking prevalence. Rather, it is the combined effect of multiple tobacco measures that will curb smoking habits, and more importantly, prevent the younger generation from picking up the habit. They noted that there is an international movement classified as ‘endgame strategies’ which go beyond conventional tobacco control strategies and adopt new, bold and fundamentally different strategies to eliminate smoking altogether, and suggested that Singapore should begin this journey towards eliminating smoking completely.

• The Straits Times, 18 February 2017, Opinion, pA34