SINGAPORE — The move to raise the legal age for smoking to 21 has drawn cheers from counsellors and parents worried about their teens being influenced to pick up the habit.

But tobacco retailers also pointed to some practical problems that may arise, such as whether licensed over-the-counter cigarette sellers will now have to be above a certain age.

A 55-year-old parent, who wanted to be known only as Madam Tan, felt that the move would deter students of tertiary institutions as well as boys doing National Service from picking up the habit.

“Polytechnic students are ‘mini-adults’ but can be easily influenced. They might do it for fun, before getting addicted,” said the teacher.

Mdm Tan was worried that her son, now 20 and doing National Service, would pick up smoking in polytechnic. To her relief, he did not because of his personal beliefs and football hobby.

Community healthcare provider and social enterprise Sata CommHealth believed that raising the minimum age to 21 would be effective.

“We have been advocating for the legal age to be raised because we believe it is one of the effective moves that will slow down the age of initiation for smokers,” said Dr K Thomas Abraham, the chief executive officer of Sata CommHealth.

He cited studies in the United States that supported this theory. For instance, one study showed that 95 per cent of adult smokers start before they turn 21, while another found that four out of five youths who tried smoking before they were 21 became regular smokers.

But smokers past and present noted the myriad ways that they can skirt the law.

Former underaged smoker Muhd Hafiz, 33, who heeded the “nagging” from his wife and children to quit smoking during the fasting month of Ramadan last year, felt that raising the legal age for smoking would not deter teenagers determined to get their hands on cigarettes.

“Even if you put the (legal) age at 21, they’ll find a friend aged 21 to buy for them. There’s definitely a way,” said Mr Hafiz, a handyman who began smoking at around 14 years old.

For example, people might pool their pocket money and tamper with photocopies of their identity cards to buy cigarettes.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said yesterday that the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) policies on smoking in its camps and premises have been aligned with national policies, guidelines and laws.

“Current rules already prohibit servicemen below the MLA (minimum legal age) from smoking in all Mindef/SAF premises. SAF will similarly adopt the new MLA of 21 years,” Mindef said.

It added that the enforcement of smoking prohibition in SAF camps and bases includes continuing checks conducted by unit commanders and SAF Military Police Command.

The SAF also partners the Health Promotion Board to conduct smoking cessation workshops for the servicemen. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CYNTHIA CHOO