Chewren of Singapore are really deprived. 
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2389
Policy Watch
Much Ado About Nothing, S'pore eases
chewing gum ban
(Sg_Review and AP)
28 May 2004
When an entire nation state celebrates the "liberalisation" of such
basic rights, it is a sad reflection of the sorry state of human
rights in Singapore. Singapore street cleaners are already
complaining about finding wads of gum on the pavements.
Ultra-tidy Singapore is lifting its notorious ban on chewing gum
after 12 long years -- but only for registered users.
Gum dealers face jail if they break the rules.
Before Singaporeans think about unwrapping a pack of the Wrigley's
Orbit gum that's just started selling here -- and only in
pharmacies -- they have to submit their names and ID card
numbers.
If they don't, pharmacists who sell them gum could be jailed up to
two years and fined S$5,000 ($2,940).
This Southeast Asian city-state, known for its immaculate streets
and tight social controls, outlawed the manufacture, import and
sale of chewing gum in 1992 after the country's founding father,
Lee Kuan Yew, complained that it was fouling streets, buildings,
buses and subway trains.
Lee, 80, stepped down as prime minister in 1990 but still wields
considerable influence under the title "senior minister."
Gum became a sticking point months ago in Singapore's free trade
talks with Washington, when Representative Philip Crane of the U.S.
state of Illinois -- home of chewing gum giant Wrigley -- pressed
the issue.
Singapore compromised, agreeing to allow only the sale of
"therapeutic" gum in pharmacies. The free trade pact took effect on
January 1.
The Health Sciences Authority, responding to questions from The
Associated Press, said it had allowed the sale of 19 "medicinal"
and "dental" gum products.
Wrigleys' Orbit, which the company claims is good for teeth, hit
pharmacy shelves just days ago.
Pfizer's Nicorette, a nicotine gum meant to help smokers kick their
addiction, has been available since March.
Nicorette costs $S19 ($11) for a pack of 30 pieces. A pack of Orbit
goes for S$1.60 ($0.94).
Singaporeans, many of whom have long derided the chewing gum ban,
seemed unimpressed by the change.
"It's ridiculous that it's easier for 16-year-olds to visit
prostitutes than it is to get chewing gum here," said 22-year old
college student Fayen Wong.
Prostitution is legal in parts of Singapore -- and no registration
is required.
"Why would I go through the trouble of getting nicotine gum if I
can buy a pack of cigarettes without giving my name?" said Wong. "I
don't think the new rules will help smokers to quit."
Change of image
The Straits Times newspaper, which has close government ties, said
on Sunday that street cleaners have already been complaining about
the return of spent wads of chewing gum to their once pristine
pavements.
Singapore has been at pains in recent years to shed its "nanny
state" image and promote itself as a hip, cosmopolitan hub for
media and the arts in Asia.
But this has proven a difficult task in a country where films and
television shows are often censored, home satellite TV antennae are
banned and various books, magazines and even popular songs are
outlawed.
Fines are levied for spitting or failing to flush public
toilets.
Critics of restrictions have often cited the chewing gum ban as an
example of the government's excesses.
But the partial legalization of gum is "really a non-event," said
Koh Beng Liang, 25, a research engineer who said he hasn't yet
bothered having a legal chew.
"Singaporeans will quickly realize it if the so-called loosening up
is for foreign image, and not real change," Koh said.
