The Singapore gum ban is one of the most well known on the list. The city-state has taken a strong stance against gum since banning it in , after politicians noticed that gum was causing a public nuisance, with some people sticking it on the door sensors on Mass Rapid Transit trains, stopping them from working properly. However, since , people in Singapore have been able to buy gum from dentists or pharmacists for medical reasons, such as using nicotine gum to give up smoking.
Under the Singapore gum law, if you are caught selling or importing chewing gum, you could face a hefty fine and even a jail sentence. Lighting firecrackers may be an auspicious activity for some, and a staple for many Chinese festivals, but due to the Dangerous Fireworks Act, celebrating with a bang is illegal in Singapore. Today, Singaporeans are only able to set off firecrackers during certain festivals.
Vaping has been banned since , even in private homes, with significant fines for anyone caught importing or distributing. Another ban revolving around tobacco, shisha — where flavour-infused tobacco is vaporised through a bong or hookah — was officially banned in Singapore in With restaurants and other businesses forced to halt any import or sale of shisha on their premises, many reminisce about the relaxing, casual atmosphere shisha brought to areas such as Arab Street, known for its traditional Muslim eateries and shops selling fabric and perfume.
If you happen to forget your towel after a nice, cold shower, make sure your window blinds are closed before you spring into the bedroom.
Of all the things banned in Singapore, this one is perhaps the most divisive. Some people find the stench so unbearable that it prompted the government to ban the king of fruits on all public buses and trains.
How bad is it? The smell of durian can linger for several days. While some adore its pleasantly sweet and creamy, custard-like flavour, others have described it to have a pungent, almost sulphur-like stench. Yes, the world is divided on this one. It might seem strange, but the government believes that preventing unlawful gatherings will help keep peace and stability in the nation.
They usually cost around 50 Singapore cents and are made of thin rattan with a plastic hook at the end to serve as the handle. They are made for the sole purpose of parental caning. Make sure you respect the local culture and adhere to their strict standards of proper behavior. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore so leave it at home when packing your bags. Importation of chewing gums into the country, even if it is not for trading, is illegal. The current set of regulations does not have provisions for carrying gum for personal use.
A proposal on the ban of chewing gums has long been in place, stemming from maintenance problems in high-rise housing flats gum stuck inside keyholes, in mailboxes, and on elevator buttons. Chewed wads left on seats of public buses, pavement in public areas, stairways, and floors were also considered serious problems. Regarded as a drastic measure, the initial ban was not successful. When vandals started sticking gum on the door sensors of the MRT trains it was the last straw, especially when it started causing malfunctions and disruption of services.
The chewing gum ban earned its merit and was finally enacted. Singapore is bent on maintaining its reputation of being impeccably clean, with an active campaign against littering and stringent enforcement in place. Those who throw out bigger items like drink cans or bottles are considered defiant and are required to appear before the court.
The punishment usually involves a Corrective Work Order CWO , where the offenders clean up a specified area while wearing a bright luminous green vest. The CWO was implemented in the hopes of making offenders realize the hardship cleaners have to go through to keep the surroundings clean, and to make them understand just how unsightly litter is.
Smoking is prohibited in certain areas in Singapore. The smoking prohibition currently covers all indoor places where the public congregates. The ban was revised in to include indoor public places that are not air-conditioned, such as shopping centers, offices, and shops.
Outdoor public facilities, like fitness areas, sports courts, and playgrounds, were also included in the extension. In , the ban extended even further to include multi-purpose halls, pedestrian overhead bridges, covered walkways and link ways, hospital outdoor compounds, and a five-meter perimeter around bus shelters. The extension also includes common areas of residential buildings.
The so-called Smoking prohibition in certain places Act was put in place to ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment for the public, safeguarding people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Thankfully for visitors, the law also requires signage and other such measures to ensure that the public is well informed.
The average number of chewing gum-related vandalism dropped from to an average of two cases per day, within a year. Section 15 3 of the Environmental Public Health Public Cleansing Regulations bans the act of spitting in public areas.
In the s, tuberculosis was one of the most infectious diseases worldwide and there was a common belief that spitting exacerbated the spread of the disease. In addition, Chinese immigrants had a persistent spitting habit as they had a superstition that keeping phlegm in the throat was unhealthy and that spitting it out would ward off bad luck.
To curb the spread of tuberculosis, the law was put in place and enforced strictly as an act of deterrence. Some 30 years on during the early s, a campaign against spitting was resurrected when there was a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS outbreak in Singapore which was primarily spread by respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth. Drinking at licensed premises such as pubs, restaurants and coffee shops during the restricted timing is still permitted.
Almost every country has restrictions on drinking, especially in regard to the minimum drinking age. However, Singapore takes this to the next level by placing restrictions on drinking timings as well. Retail shops are also not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol between these timings.
Yes, even rum and raisin ice cream! Eventually, this law was relaxed for products that have a low likelihood of being abused. Involving around migrant workers, the riot lasted over two hours following a fatal traffic accident in the Little India area. Following which, steps were taken to enact this law as a permanent solution to prevent similar instances from occurring.
There are also stricter rules in Geylang and Little India , which are designated as Liquor Control Zones — places with a higher risk of public disorder associated with excessive drinking. While feeding pigeons in the park might be a common sight in many countries overseas, it is outlawed here in Singapore.
Under the Animals and Birds Act, no one is allowed to feed stray pigeons in any premises or public place or they may be fined. This law has been actively enforced with over enforcement notices issued over the past three years.
There are a few reasons. While rats have a strong reputation of being a main harbourer of diseases, it might surprise you that pigeons also do the same.
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