'Cigarette jail': Influencer's rant on designated smoking areas goes viral
A video of a foreign influencer criticising Singapore's strict rules on smoking and vaping has gone viral, drawing backlash from netizens over her remarks.
On 28 Sept, TikTok user samnajm posted a 32-second clip expressing her frustration over the country's vaping ban.
The caption read: "I'm in Singapore once a year and that's enough."
"Just landed in Singapore 10 minutes ago and it's reminding me how much Singapore isn't for me," she said, adding that she had to buy cigarettes because vaping is prohibited.
She also complained about the Republic's designated smoking areas. "I had to cross the entire street to be in this little cigarette jail," she said, panning the camera to the road and to the smoking corner.
"I know it's a very first-world problem, and it's my fault, I should not smoke to begin with," she said. "But also, I'm just a girl."
Her post had gained over 52,500 views and 1,200 likes at press time.
Under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Regulations 2018, smoking in indoor spaces is largely forbidden.
In outdoor areas, smoking near designated spaces like hospital compounds, educational institutes, and parks is also not allowed.
Post draws flak from netizens
Many netizens were unsympathetic to her complaints, pointing out that she was free to leave the country if she disliked its rules.
A number also said they "cannot stand having to walk through other people's cigarette smoke".
Others, including some who were not Singaporean, supported strict smoking laws: "Sounds like I would love Singapore. I hate smoke around me."
Some noted that other countries, such as Sweden and Japan, also impose strict smoking regulations.
However, a few netizens urged for a more understanding response: "Foreigners aren't as accustomed to it as us, doesn't mean we should bash her."
"Actually as a Singaporean, I do miss when we could smoke freely," another netizen mused.
