negative externality: chewin gums

Lifting ban on chewing gum sale could result in return of gum litter problem

SINGAPORE: The ban on the sale of chewing gum in Singapore stays as the government is concerned that lifting the ban could see a return of the problem of gum litter.(negative externality)

Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Maliki Osman said this in response to a question on the appropriate time to do away with the ban.

Dr Maliki said gum litter has not been a significant problem since the ban took effect in 1992(background info) but is worried that this may change if the ban is lifted.

He explained: "We remain concerned that lifting the ban on the sale of chewing gum could result in chewing gum litter resurfacing as a problem and undermine our ongoing efforts to curb littering.

“As the rationale for the imposition of the ban is still valid at present, the government's position is that the ban should remain.”

The government decided to impose a complete ban on the sale of chewing gum in 1992 due to problems arising from the indiscriminate disposal of gum litter such as difficulty and costs incurred in removing gum litter from public places, vandalism and service disruptions caused by gum being stuck between the doors of MRT trains.

The government made an exception in 2004 for the sale of chewing gum with therapeutic value as defined under the Medicines Act. These include those that help smokers quit as well as products of dental hygiene. - CNA/vm

consuming chewing gum imposes an negative externality(3rd party effects) on the environment.
depending on where chewers dispose their gum, i.e. on escalators or mrt doors, this will incur an external cost as the gums may stall the mass rapid transit systems or cause the escalators to malfunction. costs incurred include the implicit cost of time in waiting for the systems to recover and also monetary cost in hiring support staff to fix the system. the socially optimal level of consuming chewing gums desired is less than the private consumption level.