Singapore Fines French Student £348 After Viral Straw-Licking Stunt

A French student has been fined S$600 (£348; $465) by a Singapore court after licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and returning it to the dispenser.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance following the incident, which was filmed and shared on social media.

Maximilien, who is studying in Singapore, posted a video of himself licking the straw on Instagram alongside the caption "city is not safe."

The video attracted widespread criticism online after it was reposted by a local community page and subsequently picked up by Singaporean news organisations.

Company Replaced 500 Straws

The vending machine was operated by iJooz, a company that sells freshly squeezed orange juice through vending machines located across Singapore.

Following the incident, iJooz said it replaced all 500 straws in the affected dispenser as a precaution.

Maximilien reportedly carried out the stunt at an iJooz vending machine at Goldhill Centre on 12 March, following a boxing workout.

Student Apologises

A defence lawyer representing Maximilien said the teenager was "truly sorry" for the trouble caused by his actions.

The lawyer said Maximilien recognised that what had appeared to him at the time to be something playful had resulted in serious consequences.

Both the prosecution and defence reportedly asked the court to impose a fine.

Under Singapore law, people convicted of public nuisance offences can face a fine of up to S$2,000, up to three months in prison, or both.

The court ultimately fined Maximilien S$600.

The case has attracted attention online and serves as another example of how actions filmed for social media can quickly have consequences beyond the internet.

Singapore is known for its strict approach to public order and cleanliness, while iJooz vending machines are a familiar sight in shopping districts, train stations and residential areas across the city-state.

The company sells freshly squeezed orange juice for around S$2 per cup.