Illegal chewing gum? Singapore has strictly banned the chewing and importing of chewing gum into the country. The chewing of gum in the country is a prohibited offence and attracts penalty of $500.

It's illegal to chew gum in Singapore. This is after an Act to publicly do away with the bubbly menace was enacted. The ban on the gum was meant to ensure the streets of Singapore were kept litter free and clean. This means that no used gum would be stuck on seats and tables in the country's cities. Illegal chewing gum was banned in 2004 after gross violations of public cleanliness were noticed through the chewing of gum.

According to a statement from Singapore's health department, legislation for the banning of the gum was already in the pipeline by as early as 1987. The ban did not come into force. However, the consultation on the ban was brought to force by the gross maintenance problems that burdened the city's officials after chewed gum droppings surfaced on chairs, tables, seats in cars, restaurants and in public houses across the state. After 1987, when the country's Mass Rapid Train was launched, gum droppings were used by vandals to stick together train doors, causing a massive inconvenience to commuters, which though easily solved, was grossly expensive to the state's service department.

A ban on chewing gum was thus enacted. According to Singapore's law, illegal chewing gum attracts a fine of $500. The laws, however, do provide for the chewing of gum that has health benefits such as for dental reasons.

The country, which also has a law that authorizes the mandatory flushing of public toilets, bans walking naked in the house and public hugging, has caused a lot of worldwide attention with its peculiar laws. For anyone planning to visit the country, you would be well advised to stash your illegal chewing gum far away from the sight of Singapore's authorities.