Where to stick your gum ...

[Varan Komodosky]

Perhaps we should follow the enlightened direction in which the proud nation of Singapore has gone.

In his memoir, Lee Kuan Yew recounted that as early as 1983, when he was still serving as Prime Minister, a proposal for the ban was brought up to him by the minister for national development. Chewing gum was causing serious maintenance problems in high-rise public housing flats, with vandals disposing of spent gum in mailboxes, inside keyholes and even on elevator buttons. Chewing gum left on floors, stairways and pavements in public areas increased the cost of cleaning and damaged cleaning equipment. Gum stuck on the seats of public buses also constantly vexed passengers. However, Lee thought that a ban would be "too drastic" and did not take action.

In 1987, the S$5 billion metro system, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), began operations. It was then the largest public project ever implemented in Singapore, and expectations were high. One of the champions of the project, Ong Teng Cheong, who later became the first democratically-elected President, declared," …the MRT will usher in a new phase in Singapore's development and bring about a better life for all of us."

It was then reported that vandals had begun sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of MRT trains, preventing the door from functioning properly and causing disruption of train services. Such incidents were rare but costly and culprits were difficult to apprehend. In January 1992, Goh Chok Tong, who had just taken over as Prime Minister, decided on a ban. The restriction on the distribution of chewing gum was enacted in Singapore Statute Chapter 57, the Control of Manufacture Act, which also governs the restriction of alcohol and tobacco.

After the ban was announced, the import of chewing gum was immediately halted. However, a reasonable transition period was given to allow shops to clear their existing stocks. After that, the sale of chewing gum was completely terminated.

When first introduced, the ban naturally caused much controversy and some open defiance. Some took the trouble of traveling to neighbouring Malaysia Johor Bahru to purchase chewing gum. A few tried to bring back more than what is legally permitted. These offenders were publicly "named and shamed" by the government, to serve as a deterrent to other would-be smugglers. As time passed and the uproar died down, however, Singaporeans became accustomed to the lack of chewing gum. Surprisingly, no black market for chewing gum in Singapore ever emerged, though some Singaporeans occasionally did manage to smuggle some chewing gum from Johor Bahru for their own consumption.
Thank you Wikipedia

[Paul mabbott]

Scarey! Did they ban cigarette smoking at the same time?

Originally Posted by Varan Komodosky

Perhaps we should follow the enlightened direction in which the proud nation of Singapore has gone.

In his memoir, Lee Kuan Yew recounted that as early as 1983, when he was still serving as Prime Minister, a proposal for the ban was brought up to him by the minister for national development. Chewing gum was causing serious maintenance problems in high-rise public housing flats, with vandals disposing of spent gum in mailboxes, inside keyholes and even on elevator buttons. Chewing gum left on floors, stairways and pavements in public areas increased the cost of cleaning and damaged cleaning equipment. Gum stuck on the seats of public buses also constantly vexed passengers. However, Lee thought that a ban would be "too drastic" and did not take action.

In 1987, the S$5 billion metro system, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), began operations. It was then the largest public project ever implemented in Singapore, and expectations were high. One of the champions of the project, Ong Teng Cheong, who later became the first democratically-elected President, declared," …the MRT will usher in a new phase in Singapore's development and bring about a better life for all of us."

It was then reported that vandals had begun sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of MRT trains, preventing the door from functioning properly and causing disruption of train services. Such incidents were rare but costly and culprits were difficult to apprehend. In January 1992, Goh Chok Tong, who had just taken over as Prime Minister, decided on a ban. The restriction on the distribution of chewing gum was enacted in Singapore Statute Chapter 57, the Control of Manufacture Act, which also governs the restriction of alcohol and tobacco.

After the ban was announced, the import of chewing gum was immediately halted. However, a reasonable transition period was given to allow shops to clear their existing stocks. After that, the sale of chewing gum was completely terminated.

When first introduced, the ban naturally caused much controversy and some open defiance. Some took the trouble of traveling to neighbouring Malaysia Johor Bahru to purchase chewing gum. A few tried to bring back more than what is legally permitted. These offenders were publicly "named and shamed" by the government, to serve as a deterrent to other would-be smugglers. As time passed and the uproar died down, however, Singaporeans became accustomed to the lack of chewing gum. Surprisingly, no black market for chewing gum in Singapore ever emerged, though some Singaporeans occasionally did manage to smuggle some chewing gum from Johor Bahru for their own consumption.
Thank you Wikipedia

[Varan Komodosky]

Lord oh lordy lord no. There were moves against smoking from the year dot:

Since 1970, legislation controlling smoking in public and in workplaces has been gradually extended. By international standards, Singapore's controls are strict. Since 1993 those aged <18 years have been prohibited from even possessing tobacco in a public place (Tan et al., 2000). Inbound passengers receive no duty-free tobacco allowance. Tobacco control leadership in Singapore lies with the Ministry of Health. Both sexes are represented in the formulation of governmental tobacco control activities and women comprise the majority of Ministry staff engaged in tobacco control.

Singapore is amung the worlds nations with the lowest prevelance of smoking and thus smoking related disease.

[nightshade]

I bought gum to chew recently on a long drive,after five minutes
the flavour had gone my mouth was dry and there was nowhere
to put it
I pulled over by a bin and tried to drop it in,the darn stuff stuck
to my fingers, I shook my hand ,still adhering,I gave a flick of
the wrist it flew off and stuck to the car arrrgh!
Ban the bl**dy stuff

[Paul mabbott]

You obviously hadn't read the instructions - I kid you not, some chewing gum now comes with directions for use.
I bought some Trident soft gum yesterday:- "For best results: insert in the mouth .... "

Originally Posted by nightshade

I bought gum to chew recently on a long drive,after five minutes
the flavour had gone my mouth was dry and there was nowhere
to put it
I pulled over by a bin and tried to drop it in,the darn stuff stuck
to my fingers, I shook my hand ,still adhering,I gave a flick of
the wrist it flew off and stuck to the car arrrgh!
Ban the bl**dy stuff

[beckiscott]

We have those gum boards in huddersfield where i work and it makes me feel really sick when i see them. i always put mine in the bin and cant see why others cant.

And yep... singapore has got it right - it feels so clean walking round the city! But the singapore folk have a difference sense of resposinilblity. When they introduced the bans, people were ashamed to be seen breaking the law - here people seem to take pride in defying laws!

[nightshade]

I was in a city G.......e, and in a square the ground appeared to be pebbled
on closer scrutiny it was gum just huge quantities of the stuff dropped
uncareingly

[wilddawn]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

You obviously hadn't read the instructions - I kid you not, some chewing gum now comes with directions for use.
I bought some Trident soft gum yesterday:- "For best results: insert in the mouth .... "

lol

I like gum and would be upset by a ban maybe they could add simple instrutions for disposing of the stuff when you're done. I keep the paper and use it to take my finished gum out of my mouth, then wrap it up and wait till I find a bin (usually at home ). They have the gum bins on posts in Rochdale and it doesn't look like it's made any difference.

Given the amount of cigerette buts we see on the streets round here I'm sure we will be seeing nicorette gum adding to the usual disgusting mess

[solus]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

"For best results: insert in the mouth .... "

D'you know, I'm not totally convinced by that... personally, I don't like the stuff: as Nightshade says, it is totally tasteless within a very short time of "inserting" in the mouth! As a child, I was never allowed chewing gum or (worse still) bubble gum as they were considered "dirty" habits by my mother. As a teenager, I went through a "phase" of always chewing gum whenever I could get away with it but think I generally re-wrapped it in its oringinal paper for disposal, but having over the years encountered it under tables, on seats, on the ground and consequently on my clothes, shoes and floors, I am now inclined to agree with Mother's point of view. After all, sucking a mint such as those with holes, is just as satisfying, if not more so; they have the advantage of being able to be shared with any friendly equines encountered during one's country walks, and there is no sticky mess to be disposed of.

I reckon if chewing gum was outlawed, as it has been in Singapore, there would initially be the usual outcry, as in fact there has been over the "No Smoking in public places" legislation (the "Wot about my Human Rights!" brigade) but then after a while everyone would get used to the idea and the fuss would soon die down. It would save local authorities a fortune in constantly cleaning up their pavements and pedestrianised town centres - in my area they use a very expensive machine with lots of water to unstick and wash away the gum, only for things to be just as bad within a very short space of time. So, in answer to the "where to" question, I would just say "Stick it!"

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by wilddawn

Given the amount of cigerette buts we see on the streets round here I'm sure we will be seeing nicorette gum adding to the usual disgusting mess

That was exactly the thought that started the thread! When in Boots the other week they were doing a massive trade in nicotine products .....

[almostnormal]

i'm actually, having read this thread, quite concerned. gum is nasty stuff, and i usually chuck mine in the nearest bin when done with it. i got in a lift the other day though and hit 3 only to find my finger stuck in somebodies still warm and salivary gum. so disgusting.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by almostnormal

i'm actually, having read this thread, quite concerned. gum is nasty stuff, and i usually chuck mine in the nearest bin when done with it. i got in a lift the other day though and hit 3 only to find my finger stuck in somebodies still warm and salivary gum. so disgusting.

Unpleasant, but I've found even more unpleasant things in lifts .... don't think anyone will appreciate me making a list ... There's a lot to be said for stairs .....

[Wild-Woman]

I don't like chewing gum. I've learnt over the years how to spot a child concealing some in the roof of their mouths at 30 paces.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I heard a true tale once where a borough council spent loads clearing gum off a pavement somewhere and it turned out that it was actually lichen

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I don't like chewing gum. I've learnt over the years how to spot a child concealing some in the roof of their mouths at 30 paces.

You're not a teacher are you?