Singapore tobacco outlets have dwindled to a record low, with a further fall expected when a display ban takes effect in August.

Based on the number of licences issued by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), 4764 retail outlets were selling tobacco last year – the lowest number since 1998 when the government introduced laws that required all tobacco sellers to be licensed.

Outlets have been dwindling from the peak of 7650 tobacco outlets in 1999, reports The Straits Times. There were 5555 outlets in 2011, falling to 5133 two years later and slumping to 4892 in 2015.

The downward trend was expected, given tougher measures implemented by regulatory bodies to curb smoking, especially among the young, says Sata CommHealth CEO Thomas Abraham, an anti-smoking advocate.

A Ministry of Health spokesman says a “comprehensive mix of strategies” is used to reduce tobacco use in Singapore. This includes public education, smoking cessation services, legislation on tobacco advertising and sales to minors, and taxation.

Since 2011, businesses that sell mainly health-related or youth-centric products have been barred from selling tobacco. Retail licence fees for new applicants were also raised last year from $360 (US$256) to $400.

A licence is needed for each shop, so a company with 10 branches selling tobacco will need 10 licences, which must be renewed every year. The products covered include cigarettes, ang hoon, beedies and cigars.

From August, shop owners will not be allowed to keep tobacco products in plain sight.

Such measures have made the tobacco business unattractive, says tobacco industry consultant Colin Schooling. His company, M’exim Singapore, set up more than 20 years ago, dealt in the import and export of tobacco, but he stopped doing this about eight years ago.

“The controls on tobacco are very strict and it’s not economically viable for companies to expand in the Singapore market,” he says.