Smoking will be banned in all public spaces in the Orchard Road area from July 1, 2018, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.

By June 30 next year, the existing 16 smoking corners that exist within food retail establishments in the area will be removed.

However, smoking is still minimally allowed at certain designated smoking areas within the Orchard Road smoke-free precinct. This area is bordered by Tanglin Road to the west, Dhoby Ghaut MRT station to the east, and Goodwood Park Hotel to the north.

There are currently five Government-owned designated smoking areas.

The ban follows a wider mandate to curb smoking all over Singapore.

The NEA also announced on Friday that applications for smoking corners in all food retail establishments islandwide will no longer be accepted. Existing smoking corners will be allowed to remain, unless the current licence is terminated or cancelled.

Those caught smoking in Orchard Road public areas between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2018, will receive only verbal warnings as the smoking ban kicks in.

Enforcement action will be taken against errant smokers from Oct. 1 next year. Culprits can be fined up to S$1,000.

Building owners within the smoke-free zone in Orchard Road, however, have the option of building their own designated smoking areas.

They must still meet certain guidelines, like not being situated beside main thoroughfares, and come with cigarette butt canisters or litter bins with ash trays, and display smoking cessation messages.

Top photo via Pixabay