Culture

In Singaporean culture, formal politeness is not highly valued. In Singapore, it's doubtful that what would be considered proper behavior at home, wherever that may be, will offend anyone. In Singapore, unlike most of southeast Asia, it is completely acceptable for women to wear low-cut attire and for males to wear shorts and slippers.

Nevertheless, upscale pubs and eateries may have dress restrictions, and Singaporeans are often more socially conservative than Westerners, so public displays of affection are still frowned upon and toplessness for women is never acceptable—not even on the beach.

In general, people are nicer in the heartlands, and you frequently see shopkeepers and customers of different races joking together. Although they are not unfriendly toward foreigners, Singaporeans are typically not very amenable to any excessive politeness from them.

Furthermore, the very Chinese-influenced local accent may come out as gruff or even impolite, yet asking whether you want beer is actually less polite in Chinese than stating "You want beer or not?" after all, the questioner is simply giving you a choice rather than making a demand.