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 In Singapore, Chewing Gum Is Illegal To Maintain Cleanliness

When you think of “illegal items,” your mind probably jumps to drugs, weapons, or smuggling contraband. But in Singapore, even something as ordinary as a stick of chewing gum is against the law.

Yes, you read that right. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore — and the reason is as simple as it is fascinating: cleanliness.

Back in the early 1990s, Singapore was determined to build a reputation as one of the cleanest, most efficient nations in the world. But there was a problem: chewing gum. People would stick it under seats, plaster it on sidewalks, and even jam it into keyholes and elevator buttons. The worst case? Gum stuck on train doors, disrupting Singapore’s precious Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system.

To solve the problem once and for all, the government decided to do something drastic. In 1992, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew introduced a complete ban on the import, sale, and chewing of gum. Suddenly, a habit that most people around the world never think twice about became a fineable offense in Singapore.

The punishment was no joke either. Anyone caught selling gum could face hefty fines up to S$100,000 or even prison time. Chewing gum in public could cost you hundreds of dollars.

But here’s the twist — the ban worked. Today, Singapore is famously spotless. Its streets are free from gum stains, its trains run on time without sticky surprises, and its public image as a “fine city” (pun intended) has become part of its global identity.

Over time, the rules relaxed a little. In 2004, after pressure from the U.S. in a trade deal, Singapore allowed medicinal and dental chewing gum to be sold — but only at pharmacies and only with a doctor’s prescription. So, if you desperately need to chew, it has to be for your teeth or health, not just for fun.

This quirky law has become one of Singapore’s most famous “fun facts,” often surprising visitors who can’t imagine life without gum. But for Singaporeans, it’s just another example of how strict rules shaped their nation into one of the cleanest and most orderly places on Earth.