Singapore has maintained since 1992 one of the most unusual restrictions for an everyday product: chewing gum. The manufacturing, importing, and sale of chewing gum are subject to strict controls, a measure that arose after the improper disposal of the product began to cause problems in various parts of the city. However, chewing gum is not illegal. There are exceptions for certain varieties intended for dental and therapeutic purposes, and small quantities can be brought into the country for personal consumption under conditions established by the authorities.
The origin of the measure dates back to 1983, when Lee Kuan Yew, then prime minister of Singapore, received a proposal to ban the product. At the time, he considered a total ban too drastic a measure. The remnants of chewing gum appeared in mailboxes, locks, elevators, stairs, sidewalks, and bus seats, creating maintenance difficulties and higher cleaning costs for the city.
The restriction was implemented almost a decade later, in 1992, consolidating one of the most curious laws in effect in the country. The rule remains active for over three decades, demonstrating how a practical urban maintenance problem led to the creation of one of the most well-known prohibitions worldwide related to a common product.
