Greetings from Singapore!

It's your friendly host from the Little Red Dot (aka Singapore) with the latest edition of my newsletter.*

If there is one 'fact' about Singapore everyone knows it's that chewing gum is illegal here. But is it really? And why does this one obscure fact define Singapore for so many foreigners?

The manufacture, sale and distribution of gum has been banned in Singapore since 1992. However, gum is to Singapore as recreational marijuana is to many European countries (and US states); that is, possessing a small amount for personal use is acceptable but just don't try to become a drug (or gum) kingpin by importing and selling in large quantities!

By 2003, Singaporeans had learnt to live without gum (and think without having to chew at the same time!). Nonetheless, the law was liberalized – a teeny bit - as a result of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in 2003.

It seems passage of the FTA by the US Congress was in jeopardy unless Singapore's gum trade was liberalized!

A congressman from Illinois – the home state of Wrigley's – made the sale of gum in Singapore a prerequisite for supporting the FTA. The congressman insisted bilateral trade in chewing gum be as free as in any other 'commodity.' A face saving compromise had to be found to give the stalled FTA a push.

The solution was ingenious. In 2004, gum was classified as a 'medical' product. Subsequently, certain types of gum, including sugar free and nicotine gums, became available for sale at pharmacies across the island.

The catch: these 'therapeutic' gums could only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. Gum cannot be bought over the counter!

(So remember, if you wish to chew gum during your stay in Singapore, please either leave some time to visit a doctor to get a prescription or 'smuggle' in a few packets for your personal consumption. There is no black market for chewing gum so don't assume you can buy gum in a back alley somewhere!)

Now why was gum banned in the first place?

To be sure, having chewing gum stuck to the city's pavements did not keep with Singapore's aspirations of becoming a clean and green metropolis. As anyone who has had gum stuck on their shoes (or clothes) knows removing gum is a time consuming affair. Still, on it's own that wasn't enough of a reason to warrant a ban.

That all changed when people started sticking gum onto the city's subway train doors causing their automatic door sensors to malfunction. The ensuing delays and disruptions to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system pushed the authorities to legislate the ban.

The ban is best summed up by former Singapore Prime Minister Lew Kuan Yew's reply to a BBC reporter's question on the chewing gum ban.

"Putting chewing gum on our subway train doors so they don't open, I don't call that creativity. I call that mischief-making. If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana."

And that's the story of Singapore's world famous chewing gum ban.

Imran
February 2022

February 2022 promotion: Book an Amazon Explore tour during the month of February (you may take the tour in March, April or even May!) and obtain promotional rates of USD 5 (per person for group tour) or USD 10 (private tour) for Singapore: the story of a church, a mosque, a temple & Michelin starred street food in old Chinatown.

To arrange a (Singapore focused) customized live virtual tour please get in touch by WhatsApp (+65 9786 7210) or email (imran.ahmed.sg@gmail.com).

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to interested persons.

PS – You may visit earlier editions of my newsletter here.

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