Chewing gum: questions and Band 8 answers

Not very often, to be honest. I usually only have a piece after having a savoury lunch or a strong coffee at work, just to freshen my breath before an afternoon meeting. Aside from that, it is not really a regular habit of mine.

I definitely lean towards strong spearmint or peppermint flavours rather than fruity ones. I find sweet, sugary varieties lose their taste far too quickly, whereas mint leaves a much crisper and cleaner feeling in my mouth, especially during long journeys.

Oh, all the time! When I was in primary school, my friends and I used to spend our pocket money on cheap bubblegum and have competitions to see who could blow the biggest bubble. Our teachers were always telling us off because it was banned in class.

I suppose it is fine as long as people are discreet about it and dispose of it properly. What really gets on my nerves is when people chew loudly with their mouths open or drop sticky gum on the pavement for someone else to step on.

I would say probably about the same amount, or perhaps slightly less. I tend to carry mints in my pocket these days instead, because they dissolve naturally and you do not have to worry about finding a rubbish bin when you are finished.