Why are chewing gums banned in Singapore?
Singapore is well-known for its cleanliness and strict rules. But did you know that some bans imposed on people are simply bizarre? Take for example, the ban on bringing durian fruit on public transportation or a gathering of more than three people. Strange, aren’t they?
There is yet another weird ban in Singapore, the one on chewing gums. Yes, chewing gum can land you in trouble. The events that occurred before the ban are quite interesting.
Chewing gum advertisements are banned
So, why is Singapore putting a ban on something that is so ordinary? For chewing gum? Let us find out! Most of Singapore’s bans are in place to keep public spaces clean and civil. Because of maintenance issues, officials debated banning chewing gums for a long time. People stuck the gum in keyholes, mailboxes and even elevator buttons. Even bus seats, sidewalks, and stairwells in public places did not escape the torture of chewing gums. A sticky situation indeed!
Reports suggest that the Housing and Development Board of Singapore spent more than $125,000 every year scraping gums off the walls and floorings. It was undeniably a pressing issue. Singapore’s Prime Minister at that time, Lee Kuan Yew, believed that prohibiting chewing gum would be extreme. As a result, he prohibited chewing gum advertisements in 1980. However, he was not alone in taking this radical step. The opposition parties assisted him in his efforts and imposed fines on offenders.
Chewing gum is used to vandalise train doors
The major event that contributed to the chewing gum ban was unveiling of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project. Singapore invested $5 billion in this project to facilitate smooth and rapid transport for its people. Unfortunately, the door sensors of the train were vandalised by sticking chewing gum on them. The doors could not operate properly, which hampered their functioning. The gum caused the entire system to crash, causing train service to be disrupted. This event compelled the government to take a decisive and stringent action. And what an action they took! In 1992, the government outlawed chewing gum. The ban elicited mixed reactions. But the streets are much cleaner now and the money spent on scraping gum has been saved.
Penalty for carrying chewing gums
People who ate chewing gums, sold them or just carried them, were imposed with heavy fines. Let us see how much these fines cost! The Singaporean government imposed heavy fines on those caught selling chewing gum. The fines ranged from $10,000 to $100,000. The offenders could also face up to two years of imprisonment. People caught with chewing gum were fined $500 to $1,000 on the first offence and $2,000 on subsequent offences. These conditions are comparable to Singapore’s littering fines.
Today, the chewing gum ban is more lenient, but the restrictions on the sale of chewing gum remains one of the most well-known laws of Singapore. Although gums are prohibited, gums with health benefits, such as nicotine gum (helps people quit smoking) and dental gum (for dental problems), are permitted.