Today In 1992, Singapore Banned The Sale Of Chewing Gum
When it comes to jokes about Singapore’s “Fine City”, the chewing gum ban probably ranks at the top. It’s been strictly banned from store shelves in Singapore for 32 years since 3 Jan 1992.
What exactly led to such a sticky decision? Let’s chew over the details.
IMAGE: CANVA
Why ban the sale of chewing gum?
Our gahmen banned the sale, import, and manufacture of chewing gum on 3 Jan 1992 due to… gum-related littering.
Our city streets are clean now, but a long time ago, gum littering had become a major headache. In Jul and Aug 1991, stuck gum caused MRT train doors to malfunction, leading to delays.
It wasn’t just the trains. Public spaces like cinemas, park, and HDB estates were plagued with discarded gum. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) reportedly spent a whopping $150,000 annually to clean up the mess.
The Government had considered a ban as early as 1983. In the 80s, MediaCorp was prohibited from advertising chewing gum, and school canteens were not allowed to sell gum to students.
Getting tough on gum
The penalties were no joke. Sellers caught peddling gum could be fined up to $2,000, while importers faced fines of up to $10,000 or even jail time for a first offence. Repeat offenders could pay double or serve longer jail sentences.
Within two weeks of the ban, enforcement officers confiscated over five million packets of gum worth $900,000 and fined several stores for flouting the rules.
The chewing gum ban sparked mixed reactions. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), cinemas, and cleaners supported it, but critics felt the ban was over the top. They argued for better public education and stiffer fines for litterbugs instead of punishing everyone. Some even saw it as an infringement on personal freedom.
IMAGE: CANVA
Was it worth it?
Love it or hate it, the ban saw chewing gum litter drop from 525 cases a day to just 2 cases by February 1993. Town councils saved money on cleaning costs as pavements, lift floors, and public benches became free from gum.
For store owners, however, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Many were stuck with unsellable stock, and exporting it wasn’t an option due to high duties and a strong Singapore dollar.
An exception for nicotine gum
In 2004, following a free-trade agreement signed with the US, medicinal chewing gum such as nicotine gum were allowed to be sold in local pharmacies.
And did you know...
According to Singapore's Health Sciences Authority: "All chewing gums, including those for medical or dental purposes, purchased overseas are not allowed to be brought into Singapore even if they have been prescribed by your doctor or dentist, or are identical to brands or strength available in Singapore. If you require nicotine chewing gums, you may buy it from pharmacies in Singapore."
For the latest updates on Wonderwall.sg, be sure to follow us on TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook. If you have a story idea for us, email us at [email protected].
