There are many myths about Singapore. It is rumored that you can be fined for more things there than in any other place in the world. While this may or may not be true, you can be true; you cannot be fined for chewing gum, at least not today. In 1992 Singapore banned chewing gum. This is not a myth . The manufacturing and distribution of distributing gum was banned. Importing and exporting the product was also banned. The government cited that it was a product used to deface the city streets and buildings. In 2004 the government decided to lift the ban. Even though the ban was lifted, it was not sold in general stores. Persons wishing to purchase gum in Singapore had to show their I.D. and register their names with the pharmacist who then sold it to them. Failure to properly register someone carried a sentence of up to 2 years in prison for the pharmacist.
Another myth is regarding Indian food in Singapore. It is believed by some that all Indian dishes are spicy. This is not true. A large number of Indian dishes have no heat at all. Many Indian restaurants in Singapore will ask the degree of heat you prefer your dish to have, mild, spicy or extra spicy. Some even use a number system, one being very mild and three being super spicy. Those dishes that do contain spice are traditionally countered with coconut or another sweet ingredient. Saffron is another spice that is commonly found in Indian cuisine, and does not bring any heat at all.
It is true that you can be fined for many things, like urinating in elevators and carrying combustible products on the subway, but aren’t these things common sense? Since the lifted ban on chewing gum, there do not seem to be any extraordinary fines that are in place for things that people would commonly want to do.
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