Le Hsien Loong Drops the Big Bubble Tea Bomb
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave his fourth “all‑nation” briefing on Covid‑19 and, as expected, added the dreaded news that the circuit breaker would stretch to June. But the one thing that really got the nerves cracking was the closure of bubble tea shops.
Singapore’s Bubble Tea Frenzy
Demonstrating typical Singaporean spirit, just before the 11:59 pm curfew on April 21 the nation went into full‑speed mode. Bubble‑tea stalls were jammed with queues, orders were flooding in, and chaos was the order of the day.
- Queues that looked like a line at the MRT during rush hour.
- Every “milky, sugary” shop was sold out in minutes.
- Online, scalpers were popping up, eager to profit from the frantic demand.
Carousell Steps In to Keep the Chaos in Check
Carousell, name of the marketplace that’s become a staple for almost everyone’s “find‑or‑sell” needs, saw the mayhem from a distance and decided to clamp down on the silly bubble‑tea listings.
What they said on Instagram:
“For your safety, we’ll be moderating and may remove listings related to [bubble tea outlet] closures.”
“We love bubble tea as much as you do… but it’s not available in stores and we’re seeing to it that it isn’t resold on our platform either.”
After this, the silly bubble‑tea posts vanished into thin air. However, you can still spot folks selling homemade tapioca pearls—so you can DIY your own cup of joy.
Why Bubble Tea Matters
For many Singaporeans, bubble tea isn’t just a drink; it’s a cultural anchor, a little taste of normalcy amidst the extended circuit breaker. That’s why you saw people turning into night‑owls, fighting over the last shop’s money, all while the government keeps enforcing restrictions.
So let’s give them a break—without ribbing them. This is their ticket to keep feeling a slice of the everyday, even as the lockdown lengthens.
— [email protected] ‑ Digital Bubble Tea, Carousell
