History of Chewing Gum in Singapore
Chewing gum has a long history, stretching back thousands of years. The earliest forms of gum were made from natural substances such as tree sap, particularly from the chicle tree, which was native to Mesoamerica. In modern times, synthetic chewing gum made from plastics and resins has replaced these organic alternatives.
In Singapore, however, the history of chewing gum takes a different turn. The city-state’s approach to chewing gum began with a significant event in 1992, when the government imposed a ban on the sale and import of chewing gum. This decision came after a growing problem of gum littering, which was damaging the nation’s pristine public spaces and infrastructure, including the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system.