Sealed With Gum

Smoking is out, literally. Since you cannot smoke in any enclosed area of any kind, that includes office buildings, restaurants, shopping malls, taxis, buses, trains it means a life of hell if you are a nicotine addict. The result is that whatever you may be doing, however high you are in the concrete jungle, you have to keep a close watch on exit and elevator signs, so that you get out when the withdrawal starts.

Don't panic if you can't spot a bin-cum-ashtray as soon as you step out. Look around, if you still can't find one, there's always the drain. Drains are commonly acknowledged as ashtrays basically you can't get fined for littering. But ashtrays do abound on every street. Research conducted during a smoking walk down Orchard Road, a three kilometre stretch of malls full of shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas and hotels, proved that the risk of littering while smoking on the street is very low.

 

Virtually every ten feet there is a bin, so stick to the left, avoid the pedestrian traffic and tap the fag in your stride. Thankfully, the Singaporean government does acknowledge the need for cigarettes with alcohol. So in bars, you can smoke. However, given the steep prices pitchers of beer for S$21 (Rs 588) and shots for eight dollars you are not likely to be in there for very long.

All these strictures against smoking, including a price tag of S$5.20 (Rs 145.60) for a pack of twenties (if you can find them) means that not many people in Singapore smoke. One man, I met standing by an ashtray, called his sort a dying breed. After all with an atmosphere made institutionally unconducive for smoking, not many young people are taking up this drug.

Not that many are turning to other illegal drugs. The immigration card states in bold that smuggling drugs is a offence with a mandatory death sentence. Last year, three Israelis were hung because they were caught smuggling in some drugs.

So how do Singaporeans get their kicks? Either nothing or shopping. But on the way back someone told me. Chewing gum. Singaporeans wait for colleagues, friends and relatives to turn up with some spearmint sticks. Chewing gum, is popularly believed to be banned on the island. Actually, the whole thing is a grey area. Apparently, you can't sell chewing gum on the island. Or import it. So it is difficult to buy. But if you carry a few packs in when you are going into Singapore for your own use, customs is unlikely to bother you as long as they don't think you intend to sell it.

So take a few packs of Chiclets or Wrigleys with you and your joint venture negotiations will go smoothly. At worse, you'll make a few friends. So forget the marble Taj Mahal and pack a few sticks of chewing gum. But not too many.