Woman drinking bubble tea on MRT platform sparks debate, SMRT reminds commuters no food or drinks allowed in paid areas

A short video of a woman casually drinking bubble tea on the platform at Bugis MRT station has gone viral, sparking debate over whether consuming drinks on the platform, and not just inside train cabins, is actually against the rules.

The clip shared on The SG Daily’s Facebook page shows the woman standing on the platform, scrolling through her phone while sipping on a drink.

The same clip was also posted on its TikTok page, where it garnered over 300,000 views and multiple comments questioning what the issue was.

Netizens divided

“So what's wrong? She is not inside the train,” one user commented on TikTok. “I thought can? Only cannot drink in train only what,” another added.

“Eh? I’ve been doing that, and no one stopped me, as long as I don’t sip that drink inside the train, it’s fine,” another chimed in.

Several commenters said they had drunk water on platforms before without being stopped, and had assumed the rule only applied inside train cabins.

SMRT clarifies the rules

According to Shin Min Daily News, an SMRT spokesperson clarified that under the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, eating and drinking are prohibited in all paid areas of MRT stations, not just inside trains.

She said:

"This rule is in place to maintain cleanliness, prevent pest infestation, and ensure passenger safety, so as to create a comfortable and pleasant commuting environment for all passengers."