Why chewing gum was banned in Singapore

Chewing gums, with the exception of dental or medicinal gums, are prohibited from entering Singapore as banned goods. On January 3, 1992, the import, sale, and production of chewing gum were all outlawed.

All products with a synthetic or vegetable gum base, such bubble gums, were subject to the ban. The ban, which includes the country's laws against spitting, littering, urinating everywhere, and exhaling mucus from the nose, continues to be one of the most well-known parts of daily life in Singapore.

The chewing gum prohibition was implemented to solve issues with gum litter in the nation, including the enormous cost of clearing up litter in the nation's parks, estates, clubs, theaters, and corridors.

In 2004, the rule was relaxed to allow individuals with particular needs or issues to purchase chewing gum, but only with a prescription from a pharmacy or a doctor.

Gum disposal issues and transporting excessive amounts of the prohibited substance can result in steep fines of up to $1,000 for first-time offenders and $2,000 for repeat offenders. People who are caught selling gum in Singapore face steep fines or a two-year prison sentence.