It is the responsibility of tobacco retail license holders to verify the age of the buyer. Moreover, the license holder must retain all invoices or receipts for each tobacco transaction for a period of one year from the date of issue. They should be able to produce these during inspections by authorities, said Sabita Karapan.
She outlined the importance of tobacco retail licensing by underpinning how it has helped Singapore to advance tobacco control in the country and save lives. For example, tobacco retail is illegal at makeshift or temporary stalls, in hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, Chinese medical halls, traditional Chinese clinics, gaming arcades, childcare centres, and youth-centric institutions, among other places mentioned in the law.
The licensing of tobacco importers, wholesalers, and retailers in Singapore has helped to ensure that there are no illegal (nicotine or) tobacco products imported into the country, said Sabita. Singapore's Health Sciences Authority decides if any violation of law has taken place, and if so, then the violating licensee can face hefty fines and/or even suspension or revocation of their license.
The Health Sciences Authority of Singapore evaluates the severity of violations of tobacco-control laws, explained Sabita Karapan. For example, selling to a minor is a more serious violation than forgetting to close the cabinet after selling the product. But fines are quite hefty, and rightly so. More importantly, compliance with these laws is fairly high too.
Sabita and Dr. Bam were speaking in an online session hosted by the Resource Centre for Tobacco Control at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health of the government-run Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India, Vital Strategies, and The Union.
Tobacco retail licensing is a vital component of Singapore's comprehensive approach to tobacco control, said Sabita Karapan. Licensing plays a significant role in regulating the sale of tobacco products, protecting public health, and aligning with international standards, as well as boosting the ongoing efforts to address emerging challenges and further reduce deadly smoking rates.
Shobha Shukla CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is a feminist, health and development justice advocate, and an award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service). She was also the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 at United Nations inter-governmental High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025). She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College; current President of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media); Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024); and coordinator of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights). Follow her on Twitter/X @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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