Timeline: No chewing gum law

Sep 16, 1923

Lee Kuan Yew is born

Lee Kuan Yew becomes the first prime minister of Singapore

May 20, 1941

Goh Chok Tong was born

he is currently still alive

1965

Singapore becomes independent

it was a tiny country with few resources, so Lee, the country's first prime minister, hatched a survival plan. This hinged on making the city-state a "first-world oasis in a third-world region".

Oct 1, 1968

Singapore launched it's very first national campaign

the campaign was about how to keep Singapore clean

1980

Tuck shops

In the 1980s the government had implemented control over sales of chewing and bubble gum MediaCorp were banned from showing any type of commercial promoting the use of chewing gum.
Tuckshops were banned from selling chewing gum to students
(Tuck shops are a small food selling retaillor.)

1983

chewing gum litter problems reconized

in 1983 the gum litter problem was brought to the attention of the Foreign Affairs and Culture Minister Dhanabalan. In that year, it was reported that the Housing and Development Board gave $150,000 annually to clean up the mess created by chewing gum litter.

Nov 28, 1990

Lee Kuan yew steps down being a prime minister

Lee steps down as prime minister, hands over power to his deputy Goh Chok Tong

Dec 30, 1990

Lee Kuan Yew starts to play an advisory role as senior minister.

from 1990-2004

Jul 1, 1991

Mass Rapid Transit system Crisis

gum would get stuck in the train doors and cause the train to stop moving and disruptions with the passengers.

Aug 1, 1991

the gum littering problem

The careless disposal of used chewing gum was also creating cleaning problems in public areas such as cinemas and house

Dec 30, 1991

the beginning

The ministry of environment declared that the ban was to be imposed primarily because chewing gum litter has disrupted the smooth running of trains

1992

the ban was introduced by the President, Goh Chok Tong

there were strong opinions for and against the ban some people liked the ban because it was their job to clean the streets of gum and some people despised the ban because they thought that is restrained peoples individual freedom.

Jan 3, 1992

Singapore banned chewing gum

in Singapore, you can't sell chewing gum or be seen chewing gum or you have to pay $1,000 as a fine. for a second offence, the person has to pay $2,000 as a fine and clean a public part of the city for a day. for tourist's It has always been legal to bring small amounts into the country for one's own use.

Apr 15, 1992

the effects of the Ban

the effects of the ban came very quickly in months gum began to disappear from Singapore and all traces of gum came with. so all of the stained streets were cleaned and nit dirtied again.

Feb 15, 1993

the ban works!

the ban had the desired effect of decreasing significantly the amount of chewing gum littering cases.
It went down from 525 cases per day before the ban to two cases per day in February 1993

1994

people continue to chew against the law

Some Singaporeans imported it from Malaysia, just over the border, but chewed it only in their homes.

Mar 15, 2004

US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

because of the agreement pharmacists and dentists have also been allowed to sell "therapeutic" gum, to customers with a medical prescription. This includes standard sugar-free gum and nicotine gum to help smokers quit smoking.

Aug 10, 2004

Lee Hsien Loong gets sworn to be prim minister.

Lee Hsien Loong, eldest son of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, is sworn in as prime minister.

Mar 4, 2010

sticking to it

Singapore sticks to its 18-year-old ban on the import and chewing of gum. when parliament questions when they are going to take the ban away.

Mar 23, 2015

Lee Kuan yew's Death

Lee Kuan Yew is known as the man who turned Singapore from a small port into a global trading hub. But he also insisted on tidiness and good behaviour - and personified the country's ban on chewing gum.

2016

Trident Maker Mondelez has begun to sell is gum in Singapore

this has happened because of a $65M investment in developing a global network of research and development facilities.

Feb 23, 2019

Gum in Singapore today

the gum law is still the same as it was 2 years ago but today there are more questions about the law such as when are you going to take away the ban? will the streets stay clean if you lift the ban? and so on but you should just be happy that you live in a state that you can chew as much gum as you want.

Feb 24, 2019