Remember the last time you popped a piece of gum into your mouth? Now imagine that simple act being illegal !!.
Well welcome to Singapore!. Singapore’s relationship with chewing gum has long intrigued people around the world. The small island nation made headlines in 1992 when it boldly decided to ban the sale and import of chewing gum. The primary reason? A commitment to public cleanliness and order that shaped a distinctive part of its identity. However, It is not illegal to chew gum in Singapore, but it is against the law to import it and sell it,
Origins
The primary motivation behind the ban of the use of gum, was the widespread and growing problem of littering, used chewing gums were being left in inappropriate places , from subway doors, to locks, which created significant challenges for maintenance, and inconvenienced a lot of people. the sticky substance posed a significant challenge to keep public spaces clean and functional.
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In 1983, Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore, received a proposal from Teh Cheang Wan, the Minister for National Development, to ban chewing gum. Chewing gum was causing significant maintenance issues in high-rise public housing apartments. Vandals were carelessly discarding used gum in mailboxes, keyholes, and on elevator buttons. Chewing gum littered on the ground, stairways, and sidewalks increased cleaning costs and damaged cleaning equipment. Additionally, gum stuck to the seats of public buses was a persistent problem. Despite these concerns, Lee believed that a complete ban was an excessive measure.
The $5 billion Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which began operating in 1987, was the largest public project ever implemented in Singapore.
It was reported that vandals were sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of MRT trains, preventing the doors from working properly and causing delays in train service.
These incidents were rare but expensive to fix, and it was difficult to catch the people who were doing it. In January 1992, Goh Chok Tong, who had just become Prime Minister, decided to ban chewing gum. The ban was included in Singapore Statute Chapter 57, the Control of Manufacture Act, which also controls the sale of certain alcohol and tobacco products.
A Calculated Risk
When the ban was first introduced, it stirred up quite a bit of controversy, some thought it too be too extreme, however , the Singaporean government stood firmly with it’s decision , they understood very well that while a black market for gum might arise, the negative impacts of allowing gum sales would far outweigh any potential benefits.
Results
Following the announcement of the ban, the import of chewing gum was promptly stopped. A transition period was implemented to give retailers time to clear their existing stock, after which the sale of chewing gum was entirely prohibited. Those found guilty of selling chewing gum faced fines of up to S$2,000, while importers could incur both fines and/or imprisonment. Existing supplies of gum were also confiscated.
The ban has since been partially lifted, as some types of gum are allowable, such as gum chewed for dental health. However, the government refuses to completely lift the ban due to the risk of gum littering again. How incredible!!!!
Have you ever visited Singapore? What are your thoughts on the chewing gum ban? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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