4. SINGAPORE – YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CHEW GUM IN PUBLIC TRANSIT

This law is so freaky that it even has its own Wikipedia page. You know you’ve made it when you’ve got your own Wikipedia page.

It came into place originally in 1987 due to the fact that Singapore had just opened up a $5billion metro system known as the MRT and vandals were sticking chewing gum on the doors to prevent it from working. Sounds like they really got their money’s worth with that one.  Anyway, rather than investing in better doors the government decided to ban chewing gum to fix the problem.

There was a slight remit in 1999, when Wrigley’s lobbied the US government hard over a free trade agreement it was in the process of sorting out with Singapore as they really wanted to get a foothold in that mass market over there. Not really sure why as I doubt anyone was really interested in chewing gum considering none of them had done it for 12 years but Wrigley’s assured everyone that it made ‘long term sense.’

As it stands Singapore now allows the chewing of therapeutic gum but it has to be prescribed by a doctor. And you still can’t do it anywhere near the Metro. If you’re over there and need to chew gum, make sure you take a doctor’s note.

☛ More Chewing Gum: Rafael Van Der Vaart Does Kick Ups With Chewing Gum