{"id":387671,"date":"2026-04-10T17:32:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/?p=387671"},"modified":"2026-04-10T17:32:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:32:35","slug":"banned-things-sg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/read\/banned-things-sg\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things That Were Once Banned Or Restricted In Singapore But Are Now Legal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things in Singapore that were once banned but are now legal<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n

As Singaporeans, we were taught to stay well within the confines of the law, and for good reason. Singapore is widely regarded as one of the safest countries in the world, and that\u2019s because potential lawbreakers are deterred from a life of crime by how severe the penalties can be when caught.<\/p>\n

But that is not to say that the country\u2019s firm stance on some of its statutes is completely unchanging, as certain policies have invited the government to go back to the drawing board to keep up with the ever-shifting societal norms. Here are just a couple that have come a long, long way.<\/p>\n\n

\n

1. Sale of pig blood<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: 1999<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

\"Pig
\nA bowl of curdled pig blood soup in Batam.
\n<\/i>Image credit: Bo Jango via Facebook<\/i><\/p>\n

Foodies who frequent Malaysia, you\u2019ve most probably heard of the news by now. A delicacy that was once only available across the border and beyond, the sale of pig blood<\/b> has been recently approved by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), much to the joy of fans of the gelatinous, tofu-like dish.<\/p>\n

\"Old
\nImage credit: Singapore Food Agency<\/i><\/p>\n

In 1999<\/b>, in order to curb the spread of the Nipah virus, local slaughter houses were prohibited from selling pig blood, as the blood could easily harbour the virus<\/b> and other foodbourne pathogens if not processed properly. Fast-forward to 2018<\/b> – food production and import systems had improved significantly, so the SFA then took another stab at establishing strict requirements to allow the import and sale of pig blood products.<\/p>\n

\"CPImage credit: CP Foods<\/i><\/p>\n

That brings us to today, when the SFA just announced – on April Fool\u2019s<\/a> might I add – the approval of the import of heat-treated pig blood products from an accredited slaughterhouse in Thailand. As such, in a month or 2, food manufacturer CP Foods<\/b> will reintroduce the Singapore populace to pasteurised pig blood curd<\/b>; only time will tell if it\u2019ll be a hit with the folks of today.<\/p>\n

\n

2. Cats being allowed to be kept as pets in HDB flats<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: 1989<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

\"Cat\"<\/p>\n

In case you didn\u2019t know, Singapore has quite a number of peculiar pet ownership rules<\/a> that warrant a hefty fine when broken. For the longest time, cats were surprisingly not allowed to be kept as pets in HDB flats<\/b>, but this rule, which was formalised by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) in 1989<\/b>, was not strictly enforced.<\/p>\n

\"Neighbourhood
\nImage credit: Luni Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

After all, how could you bear to separate your neighbour from their furry friends? Well, the rule was put into place as the government deemed cats to be difficult to contain within flats<\/b>, and when allowed to roam willy-nilly, they leave their shed fur everywhere<\/b>, defecate<\/b> and pee indiscriminately<\/b>, and make caterwauling sounds<\/b> in the dead of night that could disturb residents.<\/p>\n

By the early 2020s, due to the significant increase in pet ownership and strong public support for allowing cats in HDB flats<\/a> in Singapore, the ban was finally lifted on 1st September 2024<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\"Cats
\nImage credit: @themaingoons via Instagram<\/i><\/p>\n

As we speak, our beloved felines aren\u2019t fugitives anymore; HDB home owners are able to keep up to 2 cats per flat<\/b>, and they\u2019ll have to get them microchipped<\/b> and licensed<\/b> to keep owners accountable for their pets. You\u2019ll have to cat-proof your apartment<\/b> too, by installing mesh or grilles on windows to prevent them from falling. If you\u2019re planning to welcome a furbaby into your family, our first-time cat owner guide<\/a> will cover all these and then some.<\/p>\n

\n

3. Same sex-relations between men<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: 1938<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

Another recent change in legislature is the repeal of Section 377A<\/b><\/a> of Singapore\u2019s penal code back in 2022<\/b>. For those who don\u2019t know, it was implemented in 1938<\/b> when Singapore was still a British colony, and criminalised acts of \u201cgross indecency\u201d between men<\/b>, both in public spaces or in private.<\/p>\n

\"Pink
\nHeld annually at Hong Lim Park, Pink Dot SG is the biggest LBGTQ+ rights campaign in Singapore.
\n<\/i>Image credit: Getty Images<\/i><\/p>\n

Those found guilty could face imprisonment of up to 2 years<\/b>. Despite being rarely enforced, it brought about a sense of legal vulnerability for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore. Following years of debate, activism, and lobbying, Section 377A was finally repealed in August 2022<\/b>, marking a huge win for the local LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n

Although same-sex marriage is still not recognised in the country, consensual sex between men was finally was fully decriminalised after 80-odd years. This sparked a symbolic change regarding the views surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, by reducing stigma towards its members.<\/p>\n

\n

4. Males leaving their hair too long<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: ~1970s<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

Just take a stroll down Haji Lane today, and every other dude there is sporting either a centre part that droops across the face or a nape-hugging mullet. But, to the chagrin of the Yo-Chi and Molly Tea-loving young\u2019ins, these faddy hairstyles were very much taboo during the late 1960s to 1970s in Singapore.<\/p>\n

\"Guys
\nImage credit: National Library SIngapore<\/i><\/p>\n

Our then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew believed the growing hippie subculture<\/b> that embraced flagrant drug use and anti-establishment values among the youth had to be nipped at its bud, starting with our locks.<\/p>\n

\"Poster\"
\nImage credit: National Archive of Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

For instance, schools around the country forced students to have their long hair cut on the spot<\/b>, and civil servants were even fined $200<\/b> for simply sporting an overgrown do. Posters were also put up at community centres and government offices, stating that \u201cmales with long hair will be attended to last\u201d<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\"Woodlands
\nA barbershop near the Woodlands Checkpoint that saw healthy business during the 1970s.
\n<\/i>Image credit: National Archive of Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

Over at Changi Airport<\/b> and the Woodlands Checkpoint<\/b>, those wishing to enter Singapore were also subject to similar checks, and it was not uncommon for foreigners to be denied entry into the country. In particular, global superstars with shows scheduled in Singapore, like the Bee Gees<\/b> and Led Zeppelin<\/b>, were forced to cancel gigs as they refused to comply with these rules.<\/p>\n

Then the 1980s<\/b> rolled around, and soon folks realised it truly wasn\u2019t that deep. Operation Snip Snip<\/b> – yes, that was its official name – began winding down around this period, and the government soon shifted its focus to the nation\u2019s economic growth rather than what was growing atop our noggins.<\/p>\n

\n

5. Chewing gum<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: 1992<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

\"Chewing
\nImage credit: Canva<\/i><\/p>\n

Pretty much the<\/i> example that folks outside of Singapore use when describing how \u201cdraconian\u201d the laws can get here, chewing gum has indeed been banned in Singapore since 1992<\/b>. However, a nugget of detail that many people seem to conveniently omit is that the ban only extends to the import<\/b>, sale<\/b>, and manufacture of chewing gum<\/b>.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got litterbugs to thank for this, because from the 1970s to the 1990s<\/b>, those who were chewing away couldn\u2019t be bothered to look for trash cans to dispose of their gum. Instead, they stuck their gooey debris on public property such as lift buttons, mailboxes, and cinema seats, but it was their tendency to plaster them on MRT train doors that proved to be the final straw.<\/p>\n

\"MRT
\nImage credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/i><\/p>\n

This caused the train doors to malfunction, leading to MRT service disruptions<\/a>. Coupled with the fact that the HDB reportedly spent $150,000<\/b> annually to clean up chewing gum-related messes, this led to the aforementioned ban, which is still in effect today.<\/p>\n

\"Nicotine<\/p>\n

But, you won\u2019t quite trigger any police sirens by popping a piece of chewing gum into your mouth, as those returning from holiday can bring small amounts of gum for personal use back to Singapore. Moreover, in 2004<\/b>, therapeutic gum<\/b> such as nicotine<\/b> or dental gum<\/b> can be sold, but only by doctors and registered pharmacists, so the ban can be considered partially lifted.<\/p>\n

\n

6. Video game arcades & video games<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: ~early 1980s to early 1990s<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

Being a gamer in Singapore was tough; not because video games<\/b> or consoles<\/b> were absurdly priced, but because some of the most popular titles were outright banned. Or in video game arcades<\/b>\u2019 case, they were even ordered by the government to shutter.<\/p>\n

\"Old
\nImage credit: r\/AdSpecialist6598 via Reddit<\/i><\/p>\n

Back in 1983<\/b>, arcade operators were forced to cease operations by the Ministry of Culture, as there was a rising trend amongst students to skip school to hit the arcades<\/b>, or worse, steal money<\/b> to fund their trips there. The ban was then relaxed during the 1990s, but soon enough, gamers were met with a new hurdle: video game censorship<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\"LAN
\nImage credit: John Ng via Facebook<\/i><\/p>\n

At this point in time, those who wanted to get their gaming fix preferred to hit up LAN shops<\/b> instead of the arcades. So that was where the Board of Film Censors <\/b>decided to raid to seize copies of titles that displayed excessive violence, nudity, or even the slightest hint of LGBTQ+ themes, such as Mortal Kombat 3<\/i>, Doom<\/i>, Carmageddon<\/i>, and Half-Life<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, we don\u2019t have to worry about Special Forces breaching our homes whenever we load up a game suited for a more mature audience today. In the modern day and age, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)<\/b> has moved away from game censorship in favour of a new classification system.<\/p>\n

\"Playing<\/p>\n

Much like how films have ratings<\/b> such as PG13 and NC16, the exact same ratings go for video games, from General to M18. As such, we\u2019re now able to enjoy games of all kinds, and at the same time, parents can make an informed decision whether a game is suitable for their child or not.<\/p>\n

\n

7. Skateboarding in public spaces<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

Banned in: 1978<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

\"Skateboarding\"Image credit: Erik Tan via Facebook<\/i><\/p>\n

Kids who\u2019d rather spend their free time outdoors instead of mashing away at the keyboard also ran into a few hiccups of their own. Particularly, the late 1970s weren\u2019t too kind on skateboarding enthusiasts in Singapore, as the act of skateboarding in public spaces<\/b> was heavily restricted<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Although not officially illegal, it was around 1978<\/b> that the authorities really started to clamp down on skateboarders who were whizzing down the streets of Singapore. It was restricted in areas like schools, MRT stations, and busy pedestrian areas, and those made sense, as popping an ollie near crowds could pose a safety hazard to passers-by.<\/p>\n

\"NoIf skateboarders were caught being a public nuisance, offenders can be jailed for up to 6 months, fined $1,000, or both.
\n<\/i>Image credit: Alamy<\/i><\/p>\n

However, signs prohibiting skateboarding were soon put up in spots such as HDB void decks<\/b> and even parks<\/b>, as there were concerns of causing damage to public infrastructure when performing tricks on benches, railings, and ledges. So, skateboarders had to sneakily practice their kickflips at secluded spots, like the underutilised roller skating rink in Fort Canning Park.<\/p>\n

\"Skate
\nImage credit: S W Tan Erik via Facebook<\/i><\/p>\n

But the government then realised that restrictions alone were not feasible, and decided to instead build skate parks<\/b> where skateboarders could shred in without endangering themselves and others. In May of 1990, the very first one was opened at Petain Road, the Rock n Roll Skate park. Others soon followed, and the sport lives on till this day, albeit not as popular as it once was.<\/p>\n

\n

Surprising things in SG that were once banned but are allowed today<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

The laws in Singapore may be strict and stringent, but that doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t subject to change when the times call for it. Who knows, give it a bit, and we just might be able to buy a pack of gum on Singapore soil, or set off our own firecrackers during festive celebrations again.<\/p>\n

For more interesting reads about life in Singapore:<\/p>\n