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Teen Charged Over Viral Straw Lick; Vendor Replaces All

5/1/2026

42 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The teenager’s video of licking a vending-machine straw went viral and drew public criticism of hygiene standards.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, was charged in Singapore with mischief and public nuisance, and will appear in court on 29 May.
iJooz replaced all 500 straws in the dispenser and announced plans to install individually packaged straws.
Essec Business School confirmed his enrollment and is providing support to him and his family.

History

Historical Context

After the 2003 SARS outbreak that led Singapore’s Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency to overhaul food-venue sanitation, the island was removed from the WHO’s infected-areas list on 31 May 2003. The crisis spurred the creation of a pandemic-preparedness plan that still guides today’s strict enforcement of hygiene measures such as individually packaged straws.

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Story summary

The teenager’s video of licking a vending-machine straw went viral and drew public criticism of hygiene standards.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, was charged in Singapore with mischief and public nuisance, and will appear in court on 29 May.
iJooz replaced all 500 straws in the dispenser and announced plans to install individually packaged straws.
Essec Business School confirmed his enrollment and is providing support to him and his family.

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