Rather than to KPKB, perhaps both Singaporeans and the Elected govt should take a step back, chill and consider its actions AS WELL as the consequences of the long already steep rises on cigarettes.
It is on a moral high horse to save the young from nicotine addiction, but many above the age of 30 years old had LONG been addicted to nicotine, as there were NO govt initiatives on stemming addiction back then, but HAD even govt support for tobacco firms to support and fund mainstream events,
Nicotine DOES harm in the long run, but most will only experienced it when they are long dead. There are far more harmful chemicals that causes cancer in daily lives, such as carbon monoxide from heavy traffic in densely populated areas and in industrial zones, whereby even if one is not a smoker, or secondary inhaler of carcinogenic burning smells, cancer develops.
Back when COV identified as 19, govts shut down and in placed draconian measures to save the elderly, the ones whom had contributed and made Singapore to what it is today, those measures were accepted by the young out of respect.
Now when it is time to save the young, DRACONIAN measures are in placed upon the elderly, mostly retirees, and often, have little chance to earn a higher living salary, thanks to foreign talents taking over jobs.....
When one of our great founding fathers wanted to end prostitution, to save womanhood, the wise, great and late pragmatic Mr, LKY decided not to do so , as it will only lead to FAR MORE dangerous underground illegal sexual activities and eventually FAR MORE COSTS to taxpayers and social anger in enforcement, as many Humankind seems to have little control over long sexual needs since ancient times....and thus he chose to REGULATE it, within safe zones and better and equal education. and opportunities of life for the back then new generation of Singapore women.
EQUALLY, for those above 30s, whom had long been addicted to nicotine, it will be difficult to go COLD TURKEY over a substance that had long proven to do no present harm to Humankind, but in effect, had calmed down emotional driven Human beings thru self disciplined breathing exercises....
It is a DELICATE BALANCE, to save BOTH the young and the old, thus INNOVATIVE ways and solutions are needed, rather than using a chopper knife, as one of our great founding father, the late Mr, LKY, had realized.......
