This question has perplexed me for years. I associate gum chewing with, let's just say, people who are perhaps not very stylish and not very educated. Or people trying to break a tobacco habit.

Yes, I know that there are many exceptions.

I do not mean to insult anyone.

I've never noticed anyone in Europe, or in Asia or Africa, or anywhere else, for that matter, chewing gum.

Please enlighten me.

I saw kids on an Italian bus today making a great show of giving each other chewing gum. They were teens and pre-teens -- and it seemed pretty evident it was a holiday treat.

Other than that: Does torrone count?

And you might enjoy this (misidentified as being Italian, when actually it's Spanish). Watch to the end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-PqwlIhx_E

and this:

http://home.wanadoo.nl/ml.kauwgom/history.htm

I detest chewing gum and think it looks so ugly -- and actually broke up with an English guy once partly because he did that nonstop. I just find it a repulsive habit and couldn't get past it, although it was an incipient relationship, in any case.

He hadn't lived in the US that long, either, so he must have picked up the habit elsewhere.

I don't think it has anything to do with education, exactly, I just think it's an ugly habit (and I'll admit the idea of some keeping this wad of tree byproducts or whatever it is rolling around in their mouth is disgusting to me).

I don't chew but I am in the European minority. Just look at any supermarket checkout stand.

That SkinSkin commercial is great!!!

I do not think I could live with anyone who chewed gum incessantly either!

It seems to me that I have seen enough of those black blobs on European sidewalks to think that somebody is chewing it.

I too detest the habit, especially when people snap their gum. I always associate gum-chewing with a) teenagers b) people of lower social class.

This is not to say that I've never chewed a piece--to get a bad taste from my mouth, for instance.

Sadly yes. Many with their mouths open. We all have our crosses to bear.

I know an artist who always chews gum. I asked him why and was surprised at his answer. He said it was an exercise to keep his jaws and neck taut.

More adults chew gum in Europe than North American adults (not including Canada). If you don't believe me, then look at a study that was conducted by a group of universities in Spain and Austria. One marked difference between the continents was that the European gum chewers were most likely to chew a cheaper brand of gum that isn't environmentally friendly.

Have never noticed adults chewing gum in europe - but then I've never really looked for it. But I find it very rare here too except in kids/teens - or people trying to quit smoking.

I don't know anyone that chews gum and I never see anyone when I am out and about chewing gum. I am in N California. But evidently some people must as there is sure a lot of gum for sale in our supermarkets. And I don't know anyone in Italy that chews gum and I don't recall seeing any Italians chewing gum. I never really noticed about gum being sold in various stores and shops in Italy but than I have never looked for it as I have never chewed gum, even as a child.

I see lots of adult Americans chewing gum, all you have to do is go on the metro, in an airport, or any public place like that where you have a broad spectrum of people. I was really noticing it a lot as I just flew over Christmas. Actually, once I went out with a guy who was very cultured and educated, and he showed up on the first date doing that. He was the head of development in a performing arts organization where I live (big one). I was quite taken aback (and what is on people's minds when they do this on dates, do they think someone wants to kiss you when you have gum in your mouth?)--however, I didn't see him using it again as we dated for a long time. So I'm not sure what that was about.

I admit some kids do this a lot in the US, but I never chewed gum even as a child, so it has just never appealed to me and seems really weird. To me, it actually seems repellent that I'd have this stuff in my mouth long-term, rather than appealing, so I guess it's like any habit or cultural phenomenon that is foreign to you. My parents never did, either, of course, it just wasn't ever done around me, although of course, I saw kids doing it at school. I guess to me, it was like kids who don't want to eat broccoli.

They sell a lot of chewing gum in Asia. Googling says China is Wrigley's second biggest market after the US.

Yes people here chew gum. Foul stuff IMHO but each to their own,

Maybe I should live in Singapore!

There's gum for sale all over France, but I've never actually noticed a French person chewing it, and I like to observe people. Maybe they're closet chewers.

Some chew gum. Others smoke. Some do both.

About half of my colleagues chew gum, but I don't really pay attention.

I loathe the smell.

the gum-chewer always sits next to me on the bus/plane/train.

OK, I admit it. I do on occasion chew gum. In the privacy of my own home, mouth shut and properly disposed of afterwards. Why? Because it stops me reaching for a biscuit/chocolate/other fattening thing.