Parliamentary Secretary for Health Faishal Ibrahim told Parliament on Nov. 4, 2014, that a ban will be imposed on the import, distribution and sale of shisha later this month.

Existing licensed tobacco importers and retailers who import or sell shisha tobacco will be allowed to continue importing and retailing shisha tobacco until July 31, 2016.

Dr Faishal explained that this will allow them to deplete their stock and restructure their businesses to not rely on the shisha business.

According to the National Health Survey 2010, 7.8 percent of young adults aged 18-29 years smoke shisha at least occasionally, compared to 1 percent among older adults.

The shisha ban looked like it was on the cards since late 2013.

In December 2013, about half of the shisha cafes in Kampong Glam have had their outdoor smoking corner licenses revoked after they supposedly repeatedly flouted licensing rules.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said 12 out of 23 shisha operators in the Malay heritage quarter allowed shisha smoking outside of designated areas.

NEA’s licensing rule states that only 20 percent of an establishment’s outdoor refreshment area may be used as a smoking corner.

Establishments repeatedly flout this rule by extending beyond the designated area as shisha smoking is a money-earner.

Customers pay between $20 and $35 for a few hours of shisa smoking.

However, Singapore will never ban cigarettes even though 25.3 percent of males and 7.3 percent of females between the 18-29 age group smoke cigarettes in the same Health survey used by Channel NewsAsia. In other words, there are nearly 25% more cigarette smokers than shisha users.

Why? The cigarette tax brings in over $700 million in revenue per year for the government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said in his Budget 2014 speech in parliament in February:

"Next, I will raise duties on betting, tobacco and liquor, in line with our social objective of avoiding excessive consumption or indulgence in these areas."

"Duties on cigarettes and manufactured tobacco products have remained constant since 2005. In the meantime, smoking prevalence has increased, especially amongst youths aged 18 to 29. To discourage this trend, I will raise the excise duties for cigarettes and manufactured tobacco products by 10%."

Related article:

Goodbye shisha cafes, it was nice knowing you

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