Singapore Coffee Shops Hit with One-Day Ban after Failed Toilet Cleanliness Standards

By
Loh Huey Xin
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I bet all of us have experienced the sudden and terrible feeling when, well, you know, your anus is about to become an upside-down volcano.

It is probably not that terrible when you are at home, near a 5-star hotel or at Changi Airport, but what if this happened in a kopitiam with poorly maintained toilets?

Well, lucky for us, relevant authorities have been taking action to eradicate these nasty toilets off the face of Singapore.

Here’s What Happened

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) suspended the licenses of six coffee shops for one day on 21 Feb 2025 due to poor toilet maintenance and cleanliness issues.

The suspended establishments are located across different areas in Singapore, including Toa Payoh, Balestier, Punggol, Geylang, and Little India. Each operator accumulated 12 demerit points within 12 months.

Three establishments – Teck Wah at 8 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, 7 Stars at Block 312A Sumang Link, and 27A Coffee Shop at 517 Geylang Road – were fined S$1,300 each. Their violations involved failing to keep their toilets clean and in good repair.

Teck Seng at 588F Balestier Road and Al Mubin Restaurant at 92 Syed Alwi Road received fines of S$1,100 each for failing to maintain sanitary fittings and keep their toilets clean.

1002 Food Court at 1002 Toa Payoh Industrial Park was fined S$1,200 for not providing toilet paper and soap, along with failing to maintain cleanliness.

Stricter Enforcement and Public Health Measures

SFA and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have implemented stricter penalties for toilet cleanliness violations since April 2020.

The Environmental Public Health Act stipulates maximum fines between S$1,000 and S$5,000 for first-time convictions related to toilet cleanliness lapses. The retail food business licence would also incur demerit points which may lead to subsequent suspension.

From 1 Jan 2024 to 15 Nov 2024, authorities took about 900 enforcement actions against coffee shop owners for offences such as failing to maintain sanitary fittings in good working condition, failing to keep their toilets clean, and failing to provide hand soap or toilet paper.

Siti Suriani Abdul Majid, Senior Director of the Joint Operations Division at SFA, mentioned in a forum reply to The Straits Times on 16 Jan 2025 that coffee shops or eating houses accumulating 12 or more demerit points within 12 months may face license suspensions ranging from one to three days.

SFA said that it takes a “serious view of these offences” and reminded business operators in the food industry to always observe good food and personal hygiene practices.

This includes engaging only registered food handlers and ensuring upkeep and maintenance of licensed premises (including toilets within).

“SFA will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to violate the Environmental Public Health Act.”

SFA also advised members of the public who come across poor food safety practices in food establishments to not patronise such outlets and provide feedback via SFA’s online feedback form or SFA Contact Centre at 6805 2871.

Most importantly, Siti urged the public to be responsible while using public toilets by cleaning toilet seats after use, flushing fully, keeping the floor dry, and throwing litter in the bins properly.

If you watch at least 10 minutes of brain rot content daily, you must know this:

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Loh Huey Xin