Lawmakers in Singapore have passed tighter restrictions on tobacco sales aimed at reducing smoking rates.
Beginning in 2017, shop owners will be prohibited from leaving tobacco products in plain sight, with the goal of preventing impulse purchases, especially among young people.The products include cigarettes, cigars, and "ang hoon," or loose tobacco leaves.
Health Minister Amy Khor told lawmakers Monday that stores that specialize in selling tobacco products will be exempt, as long as the items are not visible from the outside.
Some lawmakers have called for even stricter measures to reduce smoking rates in the city-state, including raising the minimum legal age from 18 to 21 for buying cigarettes, and increasing the number of designated smoking zones.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.