Smoking

Hi all,
As i've learned through research smoking is illegal in public places in Singapore, but is it permitted in any guesthouses or other places, ie smoking lounges, bars etc? As well, what are averge prices for a pack of cigarettes throughout SE Asia (thailand, cambodia, vietnam)?

To tell you the truth, there are almost no more allowable smoking area in Singapore especially in public to private establishments. So I'd rather not risk paying expensive fines. This ban is also being imposed strictly in Bali Indonesia just last year.

"This ban is also being imposed strictly in Bali Indonesia just last year."

Really? That'll be the day. LOL

very much true my friend.

I'm aware of the law as passed, and equally well aware of the law as "enforced." I've been living on Bali 24/7 for 14 years, and I've seen absolutely no change in smoking habits here at all.

If I hear of any tourists getting fined, I'll let you know.

but they smell absolutely foul

All cigarets (and smokers) smell absolutely foul...

I rather enjoy the smell of burning pipe tobacco, and as for cigarettes, the Kretek ones, (with cloves) don't smell all that bad.

It doesn’t surprise me a bit that Singapore is serious about their anti-smoking policy. When I first visited there, chewing gum was outlawed and the customs declaration card asked the question if you had any chewing gum in your possession. Frankly, I’m surprised that the punishment for getting caught in violation of smoking there is only a fine. I would have expected something more typical like 10 strokes on the back or buttocks with a cane.

As for the new anti-smoking law (in effect last November) being “imposed strictly in Bali, Indonesia” forget about it…that simply is not true, not yet anyway and very questionable when, if ever, the new law will grow teeth.

All cigarette smokers smell foul. I would advise you to give up your 'cool hobby' of smoking before you go, as you will have a stench lingering over you the entire time.

BTW smoking isn't 'cool' anymore

What gets me is someone (usually female) walking down the street and waving their fag around. You spend your time dodging so you dont either get burnt or have your clothes singed.

@#8:

In my reading of this string I don’t see where anyone is singing any praises for smoking.

In many parts of SE Asia smoking is still very popular, and not unlike this habit was in the US 50 years or so ago. The movement against smoking is a good thing, no doubt about it, but it will likely take another generation before this important change in life style takes a firm hold. In the meantime, tourists to SE Asia simply need to be patient.

Westwood, it took me about three years of living here before I understood what a "fag" is. In that context, I would have really wondered what you were talking about many years ago! LOL

Each to there own. I don't mind the smell of some cigarettes either. I don't know if it's considered "cool,", but smoking (among men, mostly) is incredibly popular in most of Asia.

Back to prices--I was just in Malaysia and I think they were less than US$3/pack for Marlboros. I think the prices in Vietnam and Cambodia are very cheap, but it probably depends on the brand. I can't remember.

When I was in Singapore three years ago I saw cigarettes for sale in a lot of places and was astonished at how expensive they were. Something like US$12 or $15 a pack. Where do people even go to buy cigarettes there now if the rules are so strict? People can smoke in their homes, no?

And sam, before you get back on your high horse, the title of this thread is "Smoking" so I gave my opinion on the matter.

Hear, hear, well said Sam. Smokers have rights too and I agree that treating them like second class citizens is simply unfair, and not right.

To answer part of your question about prices…currently in Indonesia a pack of “fags” (as Westwood would say) runs between 12 and 14K IDR per pack, or about US $1.50 a pack. For a carton of 20 expect the per pack price to be roughly 10% less. Overall for SE Asia, smokes cost less in Indonesia than most anywhere else, and in “Sinsomemore” (what Singapore used to be called), they are the most expensive in all of this region…even higher per pack than in the US.

Isn't that sort of like judging a book by its cover?

It's always best to read the post...not just the title. ;<)

Oh, and btw, Sam, (not to encourage your habit) the quality of Indonesian produced tobacco is world class and extremely high. No small wonder that the tobacco conglomerate, Philip Morris, bought 49% of Sampoerna a few years back.

Updown...trust me, here in SE Asia one can get a nose full of far more intense foul odors than cigarette smoke at most every turn! Ah...shrimp paste in the morning, followed by a whiff of just opened durian, the burning of garbage at night, and the neighbor's pigs and ducks!

These are a few of my favorites! LOL

Oh I read the post, but I thought I'd give my opinion on "Smoking" and how it is not only unhealthy for those who do smoke, but it is selfish to do it in public e.g outside a grocery store, mall, bus stop, because they are harming innocent bystanders with their foul stench, and second-hand smoke.

The title of the thread is meant to grab peoples attention to come and post on the matter. Not only that but, the title should reflect what the topic is about and what the rest of the thread will be on.

So I see really no point in sams hostile remarks to me. When he himself started this thread, and should expect views/opinions on all matters connected to the title of "Smoking"

This is of course going into detail but I just thought I would give a valid point. After all this is a public forum, and we are all entitled to our points, views and opinions of any topic on here.

Perhaps the title of "Places of legal Smoking" Or "Prices of Smoking in South East Asia" Would have been better. Then I would have no reason for posting my opinions on smoking.

@Sam

These forums are for travellers to obtain info pertaining to their trips

Do not tell me what 'these forums' are for, when you have just joined this travel forum 2 days ago for one reason, to get answers to your smoking habit.

I have been on this forum for nearly 5 months, and have been reading the posts on the forum for over 2 years. I think I would know what 'these forums are for'

Anyways, all I did was state my opinion, which is my right in a free country. None the less, enjoy your trip!

Back to the real topic at hand however, i'd like to thank everyone who actually helped me out with this post!

You're welcome Sam! :<)

Yup, and hear, hear lagi!

He didnt want your opinion on the rights and wrongs of smoking in such a way as you've given but the price of cigarettes!! If I'd been asking the price of something and got a lecture in return, I too would have told you to shove it where the sun dont shine!!

He didnt want your opinion on the rights and wrongs of smoking

Seems to me that Singapore has got it right....

Absolutely, especially if you like Orwellian societies.

Situation's gotten a bit outta hand on this thread, i may have fanned the flames a bit! My mistake but i got my answers, no need to continue with the bad blood! Hatchet=buried

WW is a tough bird.

Cigs are expensive in Singapore because the Singapore Govt taxes them highly.

And no duty free on cigs in Singapore!

If you need to fix your habit, just cross the Causeway or Tuas, or to Batam/Bintan...

Smokers paradise, esp Malaysia.

so i wonder what the legality of bringing in and chewing nicotine gum in singapore is..

Instead of ten lashes with a cane, that'll be twenty. ;<)

do i get any say in who deals out the lashes??

Only if she wears leather! :)