The Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO) of the University of Macau (UM) released a new policy in June for the University's computer rooms to strictly enforce the rule that forbids eating and drinking in computer rooms.

The new policy is aimed to tackle the serious problem of eating and drinking in computer labs which are always littered with remnants of food, drinks, cigarette butts which lead to cockroaches.

The new rules stipulate that eating, drinking and playing online games are strictly forbidden. If you would like to bring water or food into a computer room, it is better to put them in your bags. If an ICTO staff finds any student who eats or drinks in the room, a warning will be given to the offender for the first time. The student's ID number will be marked down by the staff for record. If the student is caught for the second time in the same week, the student will not be allowed to enter all computer rooms for one week. If the student is caught for the third time, he/she will be banned from entering all the rooms for one month.

"The new rule is good because it helps to make the lab environment much cleaner and fresher, it can also let students know that it is forbidden to eat and drink in labs", said Jessica Chan, a year four Journalism and Public Communication student.