Chewing gum has been banned in Singapore since January 1992.
But why would you do such tasty and chewy gum for our mouth be banned after all?
Trivia: Studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can help rinse off and neutralize the acids released by the bacteria in plaque, which are harmful to tooth enamel.
The reason behind the ban
Before the ban, there had been so many cases of vandalism on public transport using bubble gum. This includes putting gums on the sensors to the door of some trains which causes the door to not open and close properly and to some chairs and tables which is very hard to remove once it sticks on your clothing.
The first prime minister of Singapore was behind the idea of making Singapore a clean and orderly country. His goal was making the city-state a "first-world oasis in a third-world region". And he finds chewing gum, in particular, a problem when it comes to vandalism. Even before the ban took into effect, the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now known as MediaCorp) was prohibited from broadcasting chewing gum commercials on their national televisions.
Rules
A maximum of two packs per person are allowed for tourists that visit Singapore any more than that is considered as "gum smuggling" and has a penalty of 1 year in jail and a $5,500 fine.
Back in 2004, as a result of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement - pharmacists and dentists have been allowed to sell "therapeutic" gum, to customers with a medical prescription.
The Penalty
On the first conviction, a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;
On the second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Naturally, the public reaction on this particular ban was split before the Singaporean citizens. The people who are working on cinemas and cleaners agreed to this ban while the critics of the ban felt that it was too sudden and harsh. Although, despite the criticism the Singapore Government pushed and made it as a law.
