Singapore Legalizes Gum, Barely

May 27, 2004 11:43 AM
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When gum is outlawed, only outlaws will chew gum. Or something like that.

It's now possible to chew gum in Singapore without committing a crime:

For the first time in 12 years, a ban on gum has been lifted by authorities in Singapore. But people who want to buy a pack have to submit their names and identification card numbers. If they don't, the pharmacist who sold them the pack could be thrown in jail for as long as two years.

And if they find gum stuck to the bottom of a desk, will they actually try to identify the culprit? DNA testing on the saliva?

(via Fark)


Comments: Singapore Legalizes Gum, Barely

I think that's great... Most of certain types of trash are never disposed of properly (cigarette butts and gum immediately spring to mind).

Whatever works, works. If people can't be responsible, then they don't deserve it. Should be true of many more things.

Posted by: O'dell on May 27, 2004 3:24 PM | permalink

Exactly -- punish everyone because of a few morons.

If some people write obscene messages in bathroom stalls, does that mean we should ban pens?

Posted by: Joe Grossberg on May 27, 2004 3:37 PM | permalink

You're watering the guilty down - certain types of trash are disposed of improperly by a good chunk people. For example, look at smokers in work places. They just toss / extinguish them wherever they feel outside, rarely using something that may have been provided or carrying it to place in the trash.

As for gum itself, look at sidewalks in the US. You know, all those weird spots that range from some odd color to black? They are really bad. Find one of those Times Square webcams and you'll see a good example. I'm tired of stepping in it.

But maybe you are right - why punish everyone? If there was a way to punish only the guilty, that would be best.

Posted by: O'dell on May 27, 2004 3:59 PM | permalink

"If some people write obscene messages in bathroom stalls, does that mean we should ban pens?"

If some people blow up a few cars, does that mean we should ban rocket launchers?

Pens have a utility far beyond that of chewing gum.

The only place I know of that is as free from sidewalk black-spot as Singapore is North Sydney, where they contract to have chewing gum spots removed by full-time chewing gum remover dudes. Why should tax payers have to fork out for that?

That said, I'm not sure I'm real comfortable with Singapore's totalitarian approach.

Posted by: Alan Green on May 27, 2004 5:06 PM | permalink

To paraphrase the great Heston "Gums do not dirty the environment, people do"

Posted by: Chui on May 27, 2004 8:03 PM | permalink

The best part about this is that the legislation was pushed through in Singapore because of the representative from Illinois, where the Wrigley gum headquarters is.

Posted by: ChuckJerry on May 27, 2004 10:54 PM | permalink

It was never illegal to chew, just illegal to sell, so one could not buy locally.

I buy when I travel. No problem at all.

(Not that I chew a lot. Only figured out how to blow bubbles recently, to keep up with my 8-year old, who claims he can blow a bubble within another bubble. ;-)

Posted by: Ng Pheng Siong on May 28, 2004 10:56 AM | permalink

No more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.