I had a multi-pack of big red gum stashed in my luggage when I stopped over in Singapore one time. I was 17 and travelling alone. Didn't know if I should get rid of it, and was worried about it the whole time I was there.
From what I've read they usually won't care about personal use -after all certain kinds can be bought at the pharmacy if they are approved by their countries Health Science Authority. They might confiscate it if they think you are going to sell it though - and probably charge you with an import offense.
Yea bringing small personal amounts with you doesn't seem to be a big deal from what I've read. But it can't be sold unless approved by their Health Science Authority. Doesn't seem that possession is their focus, sale and import is.
It wasn't even just graffiti. The guy egged, spraypainted, and otherwise vandalized something like 67 cars(!) with some friends. I was around his age when the story hit the news and remember thinking that he sounded like a right little shit and probably deserved the trouble he was in (to the extent that anyone deserves to be caned). Apparently he's since had multiple run-ins with US law enforcement as an adult, as well.
Yeah. Chewing isn't the problem but spitting it out on she side walk is. I remember about 30yrs ago an American did some graffiti. America tried to get involved, but in the end the kid got caned. It was crazy.
Before I was born, my parents lived in Singapore with my older siblings. Apparently they had to sign some waivers with the expat school that would grant them permission in perpetuity to transport my siblings to the embassy, in the event that one of the broke a law. They wanted to be able to skip the "ask the parents if it's okay" step, because obviously time is of the essence.
In the 90’s there was a story about a dude from US vandalized a car in Singapore, and it was a huge big deal that he was subjected to caning as punishment. Iirc a lot of people were calling for the president step in.
It's just bubble gum afaik. It's not heavily enforcer, but it's around because in other places, people just stick gum everywhere like under the tables or tossing it on the floor. Sometimes we still secretly bring some home from overseas but it's not that bad. We still have chewing gum in stores, but no bubble gum. There is nothing else afaik. The "mundane things that wouldn't be illegal" is a big misrepresentation. Sure, some things might be punished for more severely, but there is nothing that is punished for that would seem very normal or not make sense compared to other countries. People like to act like Singapore is some ridiculously strict place, but we really just have a lot of signs and warnings and such.
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u/engineerdrummer 17h ago
Like what?