By Dawn Tay

MISLEADING cigarette labels such as "light", "mild" and "low tar" may soon be history as Singapore seeks to curb the rising number of young adults who smoke.

Going by the most recent statistics available, the three years between 2004 and 2007 have seen a roughly 40 per cent increase in the numbers of smokers aged 18 to 29, according to the Health Promotion Board (HPB).

Within that age group, one in four men smoked in 2007, up from around 18 per cent in 2004; among women, 9 per cent smoked in 2007, versus almost 7 per cent in 2004.

Studies have shown "light" cigarettes to be as harmful and addictive as ordinary ones.

The HPB is inviting public feedback on the proposed banning of the "light" label and other smoking legislation.

These include cracking down on tobacco retailers who blatantly sell to underage youths.

Their licences would be instantly revoked if they sell to underage youth in uniform or anyone who is clearly 12 or younger.

Tobacco sponsorship of arts-related events - the sole avenue for tobacco firms to advertise here - may also be banned, while fines levied on underage smokers might be upped.

Places like petrol kiosks and retailers of health-related products, such as traditional Chinese medicine, and youth-oriented premises like game arcades may also be barred from selling cigarettes.

Smoked tobacco products such as shisha (water-pipe tobacco) could also be banned, along with alternatives like tobacco candy and tobacco gel.

The HPB fears these could be addictive and are aimed at creating demand among the young, who might switch to cigarettes later.

Due to stringent antismoking measures, Singapore has one of the lowest smoking rates in the world.

Measures are already in place to ban people from lighting up in enclosed public areas. Heavily taxed cigarette packs must also carry gory pictures showing the damage that tobacco could cause.

TheWorld Health Organization estimates that 5.4 million people - more than Singapore's population of 4.6 million - die from tobacco-related diseases every year.

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