French Teenager Gets Two Year Jail For Licking Vending Machine Straw In Singapore

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 16:12 IST

18-year-old French student jailed in Singapore for licking a vending machine straw, social media video sparks legal case and public health concerns.

An 18-year-old French man has been sentenced to two years in a Singapore prison after he allegedly licked a straw in an orange juice vending machine and then putting it back in the dispenser.

The incident took place on March 12 at a shopping centre.

The Singapore police said the accused, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien has been charged with two offenses for the alleged crime. The first offence is a public nuisance offense which is punishable by upto three months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars. The second offense of mischief carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both.

CNN quoted local media stating that the teenager allegedly filmed himself committing the offense and posted it on social media, which quickly went viral and prompted authorities to investigate.

Following the incident, IJOOZ, the company that operates the vending machines, reportedly had to replace all 500 straws in the machine he used.

According to the Singapore judiciary site, Maximilien has been offered bail at 5,000 Singapore dollars.

The accused is a student at the Singapore branch of the Essec Business School, a French institution with several international campuses. CNN quoted the school saying that it had provided support to the student and are in close contact with his family.

The date of his hearing is on May 22.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a foreign student has been charged for violating Singaporean laws, which is known for being strict.

In 1993, American Michael Fay was arrested for possession of stolen items and vandalising several cars by spray painting them. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane, which was reduced to four strokes after the case caused an international furor and intervention from then-US President Bill Clinton, according to CNN.

The incident had led to a strenuous relationship between the US and Singapore governments.

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