[LordOpie]

Gum returns to Singapore after 12 years
By Gillian Wong
May 25, 2004 | SINGAPORE (AP) --

Ultra-tidy Singapore is lifting its notorious ban on chewing gum after 12 long years -- but only for registered users. Gum dealers face jail if they break the rules.


Before Singaporeans think about unwrapping a pack of the Wrigley's Orbit gum that's just started selling here -- and only in pharmacies -- they have to submit their names and ID card numbers. If they don't, pharmacists who sell them gum could be jailed up to two years and fined $2,940.

This Southeast Asian city-state, known for its immaculate streets and tight social controls, outlawed the manufacture, import and sale of chewing gum in 1992 after the country's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, complained that it was fouling streets, buildings, buses and subway trains.

Lee, 80, stepped down as prime minister in 1990 but still wields considerable influence under the title ‘‘senior minister."

Gum became a sticking point months ago in Singapore's free trade talks with Washington, when Representative Philip Crane of the U.S. state of Illinois -- home of chewing gum giant Wrigley -- pressed the issue.

Singapore compromised, agreeing to allow only the sale of ‘‘therapeutic" gum in pharmacies. The free trade pact took effect Jan. 1.

The Health Sciences Authority, responding to questions from The Associated Press, said it's allowed the sale of 19 ‘‘medicinal" and ‘‘dental" gum products.

Wrigleys' Orbit, which the company claims is good for teeth, hit pharmacy shelves just days ago. Pfizer's Nicorette, a nicotine gum meant to help smokers kick their addiction, has been available since March.

Nicorette costs $11 for a pack of 30 pieces.

I wonder if they swallow in Singapore?

 

[golgiaparatus]

LOL!

I wish we have more laws prohibiting "fouling of the streets"

Cigarette butt on the street... BAM $5,000 fine.

 

[Jr_Bullit]

I don't think there should be massive penalties for such things "imposed" by the government...it should be a social/community thing. People should Want their neighborhoods to be a certain way and work together to keep them that way. In Japan at 10am every day all the housewives would come out and sweep the streets and gutters in front of their properties for an hour...those that chose to not clean their portion of the neighborhood were looked down upon and would lose face.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Singapore is cool. I have trained with their armed forces before. Neat guys. There country dont take no **** from hippies either. Spray paint something? CAINED B***H! Chew some gum? OWNED!
California should follow this model.

 

[$tinkle]

this is just one of the wacky foreigner discoveries i made when deciding where to honeymoon a few years back, along with the rudeness of asking leading questions. Perhaps this particular legislation is a carry-over from the chinese emmigrants, who are notorious spitters.

oh wait, that's hate speech b/c i made the observation.

 

[nicklin]

dang it lordopie, you got me all excited about the "gun control" discussion.

 

[valve bouncer]

Originally posted by Jr_Bullit
In Japan at 10am every day all the housewives would come out and sweep the streets and gutters in front of their properties for an hour...those that chose to not clean their portion of the neighborhood were looked down upon and would lose face.

Is that right?

 

[splat]

Originally posted by nicklin
dang it lordopie, you got me all excited about the "gun control" discussion.

I thought this was going to be a thread about dental floss

 

[narlus]

pet peeve #5342:

smokers throwing their still-glowing stubs out the window of their car. use the damn ashtray. or do you drive in one?

cane 'em, i say.

 

[Toshi]

Originally posted by Jr_Bullit
I don't think there should be massive penalties for such things "imposed" by the government...it should be a social/community thing. People should Want their neighborhoods to be a certain way and work together to keep them that way. In Japan at 10am every day all the housewives would come out and sweep the streets and gutters in front of their properties for an hour...those that chose to not clean their portion of the neighborhood were looked down upon and would lose face.

what era was this? meiji? showa? tokugawa?

 

[TheInedibleHulk]

I dont chew or like gum and I still think this is facist.

 

[valve bouncer]

Originally posted by Toshi
what era was this? meiji? showa? tokugawa?