Betel nut is a popular stimulant in south Asia. (At least that's what they think. I chewed a bunch of the stuff when I was in Malaysia and I didn't feel a damn thing. At least it made my spit turn a neat red color). In Taiwan, betel nut is sold in the street by young women who dress in skimpy outfits in order to attract passing motorists. But the government is stepping in.
Taoyuan deputy magistrate Liao Cheng-ching was the prime mover behind the new rules which he says are needed not only for reasons of public decency.
"Even more important, hospital records show that many male drivers have been so distracted by the betel nut girls that they're run into telephone poles," comments Cheng-ching.
23-year-old Hsiao Lu has been selling betel nut for five years. She says the new rules could destroy her livelihood.
"It's very unfair," she says. "The economy is bad now. Dressing sexy makes a huge difference to our earnings. These regulations will make it very hard to go on."
