US tourist asks if it’s socially acceptable to drink water in public in Singapore

SINGAPORE: An American tourist in Singapore posted on Reddit that he hadn’t seen anyone drinking water in public, both in tourist spots and areas that only locals frequent.

“Where is it socially acceptable to drink water?” asked u/Tagnol on r/askSingapore, explaining that he was following “the general rule of watch what people do to make sure I don’t make a blunder and be ‘that American’.”

He added that he had just seen two Americans talking loudly in the bus en route to his hotel and wrote, “am cringing,”

The Reddit user also wrote “I know some other East Asian countries really don’t want you to drink anywhere but the vending machine that dispenses the drink (Japan) and wanted to make sure if that was the case here or not.”

For one netizen commenting on the post, the answer was very simple. “You thirsty dude…? its fine to drink water in public.”

The post author explained that the reason for his asking should be “Chalk(ed) up to anxiety, pieces of trivia learnt 2 decades ago, mixed with a good helping of paranoia after not watching others do it lol.”

One commenter, however, warned him against drinking in trains and buses.

Another, however, provided him with a comprehensive list of where it’s ok to take a drink of water in Singapore where laws are “very strict.”

“You may drink in front of the Merlion; however posing like you are drinking Merlion’s water fountain is strictly forbidden and is a jailable offense,” another warned.

One encouraged him to drink as much as he needs to, especially in hot and humid Singapore where hydration is key to staying healthy, but to keep things tidy.

/TISG

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