It’s Time to Ban Doma
Thailand began restricting betel chewing in 1940 as part of a national modernization and public cleanliness campaign. The government banned chewing doma in many public places and even removed doma shing in some areas because the red spit was staining streets, sidewalks, and buildings. We should consider a similar approach toward doma in public spaces. Tradition should not excuse behavior that dirties shared areas and damages public infrastructure. Strict fines for public spitting, along with limits on doma sale and use in public, would improve cleanliness and civic discipline without banning the culture itself in private life.