TODAY: Stop aid for smokers if they don't kick the habit

An average smoker here would spend about $12,000 over five years on cigarettes. Smoking also incurs other costs and externalities on oneself, those exposed to second-hand smoke, the healthcare system and economy.

Seen in this context, what is the number of smokers on state-or constituency-level financial assistance? Since smoking is financially draining and a dysfunctional habit for the economically challenged, would the administrators of aid programs consider withdrawing aid for those who will not commit to a smoking cessation program and kick the habit?

There are parallels with gambling and the third-party casino exclusion orders on people and receiving financial aid from ComCare or who default on Housing and Development Board rental payments.

Part of what drives this exclusion is the incompatibility between financial aid and gambling. Likewise, continuing financial assistance for a smoker without mandating smoking cessation is a misallocation of resources.

This does not bode well in helping the economically challenged to get on the road to financial security. Smoking not only drains their financial resources, but also weakens their productive capacity by giving them poor health and compelling them to take smoke breaks doing work.

The ministries responsible for assistance programs, healthcare and social development should resolve this perverse situation with concrete measures.