This sudden economic boom also led to widespread vandalism among younger layers of the population. In the early 1980s, workers in public cities had great difficulty cleaning streets, stairwells, elevators, sidewalks, city buses and other public spaces of endless chewing gum. The first official mention of this problem came in 1983, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew received the first draft of the proposal to ban the use of chewing gum, but was not adopted. In 1987, Singapore unveiled its new $5 billion metro system, but unfortunately, it quickly became the target of endless vandalism. Chewing gum was constantly left on top of seats, hand holders, and even automatic door sensors (causing significant financial problems for subway maintenance staff). It was reported that vandals had begun sticking gum on the door sensors of MRT trains to prevent the doors from functioning properly and disrupt train traffic. Such incidents were rare but costly, and the culprits were elusive. In January 1992, Goh Chok Tong, who had just taken office as prime minister, decided to ban it. The restriction on the distribution of chewing gum was enacted in Chapter 57 of Singapore`s Manufacturing Control Act, which also regulates the restriction of certain alcohol products and tobacco. [4] Penalties may increase with each conviction, but some chewing gum that has medical benefits are allowed.
Tourists visiting Singapore are allowed to bring chewing gum, but only a maximum of two packages per person. More than that, and they will be vulnerable to being charged with « smuggling gum, » punishable by a year in prison and a $5,500 fine. People who are caught leaving chewing gum residue in public spaces can be fined, given community service or often beaten in public with a bamboo stick. Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company enlisted the help of a Washington, D.C. lobbyist and Illinois Congressman Phil Crane, then chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Ways and Means on Commerce, to put chewing gum on the agenda of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. [11] This created a dilemma for the Singapore government. He recognized the health benefits of certain gums, such as a sugar-free brand of gum that contains calcium lactate to strengthen tooth enamel.
The sale of this newly categorized medical chewing gum was allowed as long as it was sold by a dentist or pharmacist who had to register the names of the buyers. [ref. needed] In the mid-1990s, Singapore`s laws received international media coverage. The US media has paid a lot of attention to the case of Michael P. Fay, an American teenager who was caned in Singapore in 1994 for vandalism (use of spray paint, not chewing gum). They also drew attention to some of Singapore`s other laws, including the « mandatory flushing of public toilets » rule. [7] The convoluted coverage of these issues has led to the myth that the use or importation of chewing gum itself is punishable. In fact, the only penalties under Chapter 57 are fines and imprisonment. [8] The ban remains one of the most well-known aspects of life in Singapore, along with the country`s laws against garbage, graffiti, jaywalking, spitting, expelling « mucus from the nose » and urinating everywhere except in the toilet. (If it is a public washroom, you are required by law to rinse them.) « For many years, I, too, chewed the mystery of the gum puzzle as a guest columnist, but I understood that the tendency to stick the remnants of the gum anywhere was seen by authorities as a palpable attack on Singapore`s ambitions to be perfect, » Plate writes in his book Giants of Asia: Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore under import and export (chewing gum) regulations. [1] The ban, which covers all gum substances of vegetable or synthetic origin such as chewing gum and chewing gum, is punishable by a heavy fine and possible imprisonment for those caught importing, selling or manufacturing chewing gum.
[2] One of the purposes of the ban was to prevent vandals from using used chewing gum to disrupt rapid transit (TRM) services. Before the ban came into effect, there were numerous cases of vandals sticking gum on MRT train door sensors, preventing doors from functioning properly and disrupting train traffic. [3] The chewing gum ban was introduced to eliminate problems caused by chewing gum waste in public places such as movie theatres, parks and public areas of housing estates such as elevators, stairs and hallways, as well as the high costs associated with garbage disposal. [4] The Housing and Development Board (HDB) reportedly spent S$150,000 per year to dispose of chewing gum waste. [5] The various problems caused by chewing gum litter and the idea of banning chewing gum were first addressed in 1983 by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture, S. Dhanabalan. [6] In the 1980s, before the ban came into effect on January 3, 1992, the government had already put in place some controls on the sale of chewing gum. The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now known as MediaCorp) was banned from running advertisements promoting the sale of chewing gum, while school shops were ordered to stop selling chewing gum to students. [7] Public reaction to the ban on chewing gum was divided. Supporters of the ban, including Singapore Mass Rapid Transit, the Consumers` Association of Singapore, cinemas and cleaners, felt the ban would help get rid of a constant nuisance and, in turn, improve the cleanliness of public places. [8] Critics of the ban felt that it was too sudden and severe.
They suggested taking a more pragmatic approach, such as public education or higher fines for those who don`t properly dispose of their chewing gum. [9] The ban was also unpopular with chewing gum retailers – including food stores, convenience stores and supermarkets – as they had to dispose of their chewing gum inventory at a loss. [10] Despite criticism, the government enforced the chewing gum ban because public education did not have the desired effect. [11] The ban has been effective in reducing the number of cases of chewing gum waste. The average number of cases per day in February 1993 was only two, compared to 525 before the ban. With the drastic reduction in chewing gum waste, municipalities have reported huge savings on cleaning costs. [12] In March 2004, the ban on chewing gum was partially lifted after the government authorized the sale of chewing gum under the free trade agreement signed with the United States of America. [13] However, authorized gums were limited to those with therapeutic value, such as nicotine gum and oral gums.
[14] References1. Republic of Singapore. Official journal. Supplement to subsidiary legislation. (January 2, 1992). Prohibition of Imports (Chewing Gum) Ordinance, 1992 (col. S 3/1992) (p. 2).
Singapore: [s.n.]. Telephone number: RSING 348.5957 SGGSLS. Last year, attempts were made to change Singapore`s laws prohibiting two members of the same sex from having sex, but unfortunately, the regulations remain. The penalty for same-sex relations in Singapore is two years in prison. The black market for chewing gum does not exist in Singapore, and the majority of the population who want to take advantage of it goes to neighbouring countries where it is legal. To date, Singaporean 16-year-old children can more easily visit prostitutes (legal in some parts of the country) than come into possession of chewing gum. Initially, Lee Kuan Yew opposed a total ban and agreed with opponents that it was too drastic a measure that would be easier to remedy through education and fines for repeat offenders. This changed in 1987 with the introduction of the rapid transit system. The cost of the system was $5 billion, and politicians were eager to see how it would modernize and even revolutionize the city-state. When people started sticking gum on train door sensors, causing doors to malfunction and long train traffic interruptions, chewing gum had officially exhausted its welcome on the island.
The ban on chewing gum is just one of many laws aimed at improving the island`s cleanliness, including laws against trash, graffiti and spitting. Nearly a decade after the ban went into effect, a BBC reporter suggested that such strict laws would have a negative impact on business creativity, to which Lee Kuan Yew replied: « If you can`t think because you can`t chew, try a banana. » In Singapore, vandalism can result in your arrest and beating. Singapore`s vandalism laws shocked the media for the first time in 1994 after an American teenager was caned as punishment for destroying cars and public property. Earlier this year, two men who visited the country were also sentenced to prison terms and caning for painting graffiti on a public train. Singapore is known for its strict regulations and laws aimed at maintaining peace and order, ranging from restrictions on safety-conscious fireworks to delays in selling alcohol. But you may not know the most obscure objects and activities that are forbidden in the garden city. So, before you blow on this e-cigarette, read this exact guide on the things that are banned in Singapore.
