Do more people chew gum in certain workplaces, communities or areas?

[Mondaymorningblues]

I usually work in fairly professional buildings in Central London, but as an unusual job, I'm currently working in a building in zone 5. There are several recruitment agencies who recruit for low-paid work, and a lot of visitors to the building seem to be from disadvantaged backgrounds, or don't speak English very well, or don't seem to communicate very well. All very important work of course, but what I've noticed is that so many of them chew gum. The noisy, open-mouthed type of chewing. It's not just the visitors, but also a lot of the people who work here.

Is there some reason for this? The difference is really pronounced. I can't stand chewing but I'm really trying to be professional and understanding to everyone.

Keeps you from eating.

Oh, and bad English and chewing gum are not connected. I manage(d) to speak bad English without ever having used chewing gum.

nothing to do with bad English but more likely to do with different cultural expectations? Possibly from cultures where more people smoke and that's how they're dealing with that?

I must say I think it's pretty unusual to the extent that one of my colleagues was chewing gum yesterday and it was really noticeable, that's how unusual I find it.

I used to chew gum when I smoked to freshen my breath after a cigarette. Haven't since I stopped smoking

I must say I think it's pretty unusual to the extent that one of my colleagues was chewing gum yesterday and it was really noticeable, that's how unusual I find it.

Exactly. It's unusual in a professional setting. That's why I've noticed it so much here.