Here's something to chew on: After a more than 20-year ban, gum is now being sold at Palm Beach International Airport.

County commissioners lifted the ban last week as part of changes to its contract with Paradies Shops, which runs the retail shops at the airport.

Paradies officials estimated they would make an additional $225,000 a year if gum sales were allowed in the airport, giving the cash-strapped county an extra $50,000 in revenue.

But money wasn't the sole motivator. It was about giving passengers what they wanted, said Butch Hindle, general manager at the Paradies Shops at PBIA.

"The No. 1 question asked at the airport was: Where's the gum?" he said.

When told the newsstands and gift shops didn't sell gum, passengers asked the second-most-common question at the airport: "Why?"

The ban began in 1988 after the new terminal opened, said Casandra Davis, PBIA spokeswoman. Airport officials worried about chewing gum spoiling new carpet and furniture.

In 1991, Airport Director Bruce Pelly called chewing gum "a maintenance nightmare" and vowed to stick to a no-gum sales policy even after Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport lifted its ban on selling chewing gum.

PBIA officials stuck to their guns no matter the constant prodding from Paradies.

"For years, they have been adamant against it," Hindle said. "We talked about it many times."

Chewing gum is one of the most popular items sold at airports. Last year, chewing gum sales at the Fort Lauderdale airport totaled $927,000.

Palm Beach airport officials finally relented because the money was important, but also because they wanted to maintain a close partnership with Paradies, Davis said.

Plus, airport officials have the option to bring back the ban if the gum gets out of hand.

"We're going to monitor it to ensure it's not damaging the carpet," Davis said.

PBIA maintenance crews are preparing for an onslaught of the sticky goo. They've stocked up on a gum-freezing solution to make it easier to clean up discarded gum. And they plan to make extra sweeps through the airport looking for gummy remnants.

Passengers began buying gum at PBIA this weekend. Hindle hasn't tracked sales yet, but he's betting passengers will be eager to buy.

"We're trying to get a good assortment to appease most of our customers," he said.

to those that are quick to agree with bans, government intrusions and the loss of personal choices... this is hilarious good thing I always bring my own gum!!!!!!! may just stand outside the airports that still uphold this ban on gum, hey I may become a billionaire selling gum

Singapore is preparing to partially lift its famous ban on chewing gum - in order to comply with a free trade agreement with the United States.

But only gum aimed at helping smokers to quit will be allowed when the new rules come into effect on Thursday.

The government will allow the sale of Nicorette, a nicotine gum, because the agreement with the US says "therapeutic" brands should be allowed.

Singapore banned chewing gum in 1992 because of a litter problem.

The pristine city-state, did not like gum sticking to its pavements, but the rules have been relaxed as part of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into effect at the start of this year.
-BBC

Agreed people are a bunch of pigs and don't take care of other people's property, but banning the sale of gum did nothing but reduce their income potential.

What are they going to ban next? people wearing nail polish and their polish can be rubbed of onto their walls? ban shoes as they can scuff floors, ban blue jeans, and some blue jeans bleed, ban long haired people as they shed hair onto the floors????

They should ban the sale of dried fruits, gives gas.
They should ban the sale of xrated mags - longer waits for bathroom.

ok ok - off my soap box

Seriously, if there's a way for humans to screw things up by behaving worse than pigs, it will happen. I live in a lovely complex here but there's white trash with money here who insist on spitting in general, spitting gum, leaving cigarette butts behind, letting their dogs poop wherever, leaving beer cans & bottles wherever. Never mind that there are doggie doo bags and containers and garbage cans throughout and bushes to spit in (if one MUST).

It's a real shame that there had to be a ban on the gum. Guess they'll see how it goes. I know when I'm flying, chewing on gum helps the ear pressure.

There is no way I could fly out of that airport! I need gum! My ears are too sensitive. I would be crying the whole flight!

gum+airports=bad

I'm an airport janitor, and gum is my #1 most hated object. Its everywhere. On the floors, carpets, on the lego playsets, etc. Its like people refuse to get up and walk to a trash bin to throw it away. And theres a trash bin every 5 feet!

I've never heard of such ban. But at least when I travel near cloudy...I know what to do with my gum

people are just plain nasty, lazy and a bunch of pigs have seen people drop a wrapper, they'd rather kick it away from them than pick up after themselves...

However, the ban was on selling gum on airport grounds - which only reduces their income potential as most people do chew gum, buy gum especially while flying as I do believe it helps prevent the ear popping while in the air.

so it's only a ban from the airport selling it??? people can litter if they bring it in themselves. makes no sense to me

Maybe a ban on chewing gum isn't such a bad idea, it has worked for Singapore.

ding ding ding ding - that's what I mean - they banned the sale of gum - just reducing the potential income of those retail shops in airport and only affecting those who rent out space to do business.

People should not litter, not only does it make the surrounding areas unsightly it shows me how they care for their own property yuck, nasty, ewwwww, that's what my mom has always said.

ahhhh Fran dinged me

I know a lot of peeple that voted 4 BHO that regret it now becuz of this

and not only once

I know ...you are a triple dinger

I can't fly without gum

now Sam, hate to break it to you, but you really can't fly - the airplane does the flying

It's all his fault????

(insert gum chewing/bubble blowing smiley here)