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35 Examples Of Things Banned Around The World To Help You Avoid Awkward Situations While Traveling
Many experience a strange, uneasy feeling walking out of the store empty-handed or stopping at a red light with a police car in an adjacent lane. You know you've done nothing wrong, yet feel like a criminal about to get caught red-handed. These are just some of the things that feel illegal but aren't. The irony is that on some occasions, you might actually do things that are illegal, yet be utterly unaware of it. This is when something considered mundane in your place of residence makes it to the list of things banned in other states or countries.
We are all aware of standard or normal things that are banned around the world (or in most places), such as stealing, kidnapping, crossing at a red light, driving over the speed limit, etc. We are aware that these things are punishable. However, what about the many weird laws and weird things banned around the world or parts of it that we literally have no clue about? Because how else would you know that flip-flops are prohibited on the island of Capri, in Italy, unless your travel itinerary warned you in advance? Or that you can't bring any shaving brushes made in or exported from Japan to St. Lucia? That's right, Japanese shaving brushes and flip-flops are just two of the odd banned things around the world. There's a big difference between being ignorant about the laws and being unaware of very peculiar, strange things that are banned in other countries. However, as they say, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Hence, if you are lucky, you might learn about the law with just a warning and no fine or, even worse, imprisonment.
Below, we've compiled a list of strange things that have been banned around the world for very peculiar (often not for our understanding or judgment) grounds and reasons. Were you aware of any of these weird things that are illegal in some places around the world? Let us know by giving those an upvote. Also, are there any strange banned things (there must be) that we've missed and should have included in the list? Let us know in the comments!
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High Heels In Historical Sites (Greece)
Since 2009, Greece has outlawed wearing heels at any historical site. Apparently, the pointy heels apply too much pressure to the ground and can chip away at architectural structures.
Wearing heels to historical sites also seems like a great way to break your ankle
Goldfish In A Glass Bowl (Rome, Italy)
Although it is legal to own goldfish in Rome, keeping them in a glass bowl is not. It is regarded as harsh since the bowl restricts their oxygen intake and could render them blind.
Flip-Flops (Capri, Italy)
Apparently, flip-flops are prohibited on the Italian island of Capri since they are “excessively noisy,” and residents want to enjoy their “peace and quiet.” Tourists may, however, bring “loud” shoes and wear them in the rest of Italy.
Eating Durian Fruit In Public (Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, And Singapore)
Although the durian fruit may be a favorite among many Singaporeans and visitors, the government and private sector were obliged to ban it due to its pungent stench. Due to the numerous “No Durian” signs found almost anywhere, travelers to Singapore shouldn’t anticipate seeing durian fruit on the city’s public transportation or in major public areas. Durian has also been outlawed on various forms of public transportation in Thailand, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Baby Walkers (Canada)
In 2004, the Canadian government banned baby walkers to protect kids since they were moving too fast, and parents or caregivers simply couldn’t respond quickly enough.
I'm just imagining a bunch of babies with nitrous, drifting and speeding around their parents...
Chewing Gum (Singapore)
Singapore forbids the import and trading of chewing gum, except for a few varieties allowed for medicinal reasons. The country also takes prohibition very seriously; the importer might face jail time and huge fines.
It's actually only illegal to sell and import. You can have it for yourself, you just can't spit it on the ground.
Noise (Victoria, Australia)
In Victoria, Australia, residents are prohibited from making any loud noises during set hours, which are Monday to Friday before 7 am and after 8 pm. and on weekends and public holidays before 9 am and after 8 pm.
Blue Jeans (North Korea)
Blue jeans are prohibited in North Korea because they are viewed as a symbol of American imperialism. The same applies to other Western items, such as skinny jeans, lip and nose piercings, and branded T-shirts.
The Word “Jasmine” And Jasmine Flowers (China)
After the 2011 Chinese pro-democracy protests, also known as the Greater Chinese Democratic Jasmine Revolution, the word “jasmine” was blocked by China Mobile and China Unicom, suggesting that one can’t use the word “jasmine” on the internet in China. According to a report in The New York Times from May 10, 2011, selling jasmine flowers at flower marketplaces had also been prohibited.
Reincarnation (China)
Since 2017, only with Chinese government approval may Buddhist monks in Tibet undergo reincarnation. Many believe the law was simply implemented to defame the Dalai Lama and lower public opinion of him.
The intent was for the Chinese government to hand-pick the next Dalai Lama.
Mullets And Ponytails (Iran)
In 2010, Iran outlawed mullets, ponytails, and long, gelled hair for men but allowed quiffs or floppy fringes in the style of the 1980s. Apparently, the ban included "homosexual" and "devil worshiping" hairstyles, tattoos, sunbed treatments, and plucked eyebrows for males since they are all considered against Islamic law.
I've been looking for a good "devil worshiping" hairstyle, does Iran have a style guide I could look at?
According to google, it's this.. lmao Screen-Sho...21-png.jpg
Load More Replies...Maybe that is why my prayers to Satan have never been answered. I have the wrong hair style!
As a homosexual man my hair is actually pretty short as is my boyfriend's idk what they're in about
At first I thought you said your BF's dik was short 🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies...Yep. And regimes that decide on innocuous things to oppress people with imprisonment and torture.
Load More Replies...Yes of course. Mohammad were sure to include hairstyles, face styles and everything else in his book.
Not true. It is the Irian gouvernment who is inventing those rules.
Load More Replies...... all homophobes? That's sort of their entire thing I think
Load More Replies...This is why Islam and other evil religions should be wiped out and looked down on.
In Kuwait, my Turkish barber used to offer nose and ear waxing every time. I do not recall if eyebrows were ever mentioned
So are southern folks with mullets gay or devil worshippers? I grew up west coast so I'm not sure.
I wonder if people of other religions are classed under devil worshippers or if there is an infidel category. Or if it's a moot point as being an infidel is sin enough.
Load More Replies...Roger Waters has a difficult choice: He's such an unbearable anti-semite that the Iranians will probably love him... except Pink isn't really Pink without shaving his eyebrows.
Could someone point out the bit in the Koran where it mentions banning certain hairstyles?
It'll be a later addition and an interpretation of someone with an agenda who will find some phrase that they will say makes it a sin. I believe there is something in the bible about not shaving your face that is pretty clear, but the sin of homosexuality takes liberal license from one phrase that is a big stretch. You can't pick and choose; especially disregarding something very clearly specified, and being viciously fervent about a tenuous assumption. All from books written years after the events in a largely illiterate population, let alone the scribe's personal politics and beliefs, and inclusion of a not inconsiderate amount of typos and use of words and sayings that are outdated and/or very regional.
Load More Replies...Dude was that the f slur? If so why what the f**k
Load More Replies...Running Out Of Gas In Autobahn (Germany)
Running out of petrol is a big no-no since stopping your car on the Autobahn in Germany is also forbidden. Moreover, walking is not allowed on the Autobahn too.
Not quite right. There is an emergency stopping lane, hard shoulder, whatever you want to call it, for use if you break down. If this causes a problem and can be shown to be due to a non-roadworthy vehicle or the driver's negligence then it may be prosecuted, but in general it will not be.
Certain Baby Names (Denmark, Iceland, And Portugal)
Foreign names are not permitted to be used for Portuguese infants, so Aiden, Ashley, Bruce, Charlotte, Dylan, and Jenny are all prohibited. A law also forbids giving a kid a nickname as their legal name. For example, the name Tom cannot be used, but Tomas is permitted.
Any name with C, Q, or W in it would be disallowed in Iceland because these letters do not exist in the Icelandic alphabet.
Denmark has a list of around 7,000 baby names that are allowed, and, like in Germany, gender-neutral names are off the list.
Spend enough time in a maternity ward in the US and you'll start to understand why some countries limit what you can name a child. Looking at you, Elon.
Yellow Clothing (Malaysia)
As thousands of protestors in yellow t-shirts stormed the streets of Kuala Lumpur and demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister in 2016, the Malaysian government outlawed wearing yellow clothes. Since then, anyone seen wearing yellow has been subject to arrest on the grounds that they are participating in a protest.
Anonymous Blogs With Over 3,000 Daily Visitors (Russia)
A regulation limiting social media users was enacted in Russia in 2014. That meant bloggers with more than 3,000 daily readers had to register with the country’s mass media regulator, Roskomnadzor, and follow the rules that apply to the nation’s major media outlets.
Please can someone explain please 🤔 Edit: thanks to the ppl who explained to me what this meant!
Online Video Games After Midnight Under The Age Of Sixteen (South Korea) - Abolished
In 2011, the South Korean National Assembly passed the Youth Protection Revision Act, sometimes referred to as the "Shutdown Law" or "Cinderella Law," which made it illegal for kids under sixteen to play online video games between the hours of 0:00 and 6:00. However, the legislation was repealed in 2021.
How exactly did they think they were going to enforce that??
Gambling At The Casino, If You Are A Citizen Of Monaco (Monaco)
Monaco residents are not allowed to gamble. Nonetheless, just 8,000 out of the 38,000 population, or around 21%, are citizens. A few publications said it was a moral policy that dates back to the establishment of casinos in the 1850s as to why those 8,000 residents are not allowed to bet.
So they know it's a bad habit but happy to make money from the misery of others?
Lip-Syncing (Turkmenistan)
To protect “true culture,” the former president of Turkmenistan banned lip-syncing in 2005. Also, he outlawed opera and ballet, calling them superfluous. According to the former president’s order, lip-syncing isn’t permitted at cultural events, concerts, television, or private gatherings like weddings.
Time Travel Movies And TV Shows (China)
China’s government attempted to limit TV’s “bad” effects out of concern for how it would affect its residents’ perceptions of the world. Hence, in 2011, officials decided to outlaw time travel plots because they were worried about the rising popularity of time travel programs that alter history.
However, the directive from China’s Bureau of Broadcasting issued in 2012 might have been more of a guidance and not strict rules since several movies and TV shows, including time travel plots, have been shown in China since. Filmmakers are still allowed to create TV shows that do not follow the rules, but there may be a long delay before those shows may be broadcast.
In addition to broadcasting, a TV series’ screenplay must be approved by the censorship board. Even if a film or television series is made, it cannot be broadcast or streamed in China if the censorship board does not approve of the plot. Hence, filmmakers often won’t take the chance to produce a movie or television series that likely won’t be shown on the big screen.
'China bans something to restrict it's population's perception of the World' , No, really ? What about that bastion of openness and free speech, Russia - oops, maybe not .... We in the West really don't understand how lucky we are !!
Jogging In Groups (Burundi)
Apparently, jogging groups were prohibited from Burundi’s capital in 2014 because opposition parties used them as a pretext for organizing “uprisings.” However, individual jogging is allowed.
Ok is this country so corrupt that they're scared that a group of ppl jogging is an uprising!?
Photos Of The President’s House (South Africa)
In 2013, the South African government threatened legal action against media sites that published images of President Jacob Zuma’s home. The photo ban came after a lengthy dispute about Zuma's house in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal — a massive property with a mini-football field, a gym, and helicopter pads. A controversy broke out after it was learned that more than £12 million in public funds were spent to renovate the property, leading various media sources to publish aerial pictures of it.
Creating Memes (Australia)
Lawfully, memes cannot be created or distributed in Australia because of the country’s strong copyright laws. “Distributing an infringing article that prejudicially affects the copyright owner” is prohibited, according to Section 132A Part 2 of the Copyright Act.
Importing Ballpoint Pens (Nigeria)
In addition to ballpoint pens, so are prohibited all types of footwear, live or dead birds, spaghetti or noodles, carpets, and cocoa butter.
Using More Than 25 Pennies (Canada)
Since 2013, using more than 25 pennies in a single transaction has been prohibited in Canada. This was one of the laws set to place to gradually phase out coins.
Wheelbarrows And Carts (Lagos, Nigeria)
The Lagos State Government banned the use of carts and wheelbarrows in 2018, claiming that their activities were detrimental to the state’s environmental cleanliness. According to a former secretary to the state government, investigations have shown that the majority of the unlawful dumping of rubbish into canals and road medians at night that results in floods was done by cart pushers.
Haggis (USA)
Haggis’s importation from the UK into the US was outlawed in 1971 due to a restriction on products containing sheep lung. All lungs are prohibited because, during slaughter, bodily fluids like mucus and stomach acid might seep into the lung.
Japanese Shaving Brushes (Saint Lucia)
These innocent-looking shaving brushes are forbidden in the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. After a scandal involving anthrax contamination in the early 1900s, the island outlawed all imports of shaving brushes made in or exported from Japan.
I found this on pubmed - "During the First World War, anthrax cases in the United States and England increased greatly and seemed to be associated with use of new shaving brushes. Further investigation revealed that the source material and origin of shaving brushes had changed during the war. Cheap brushes of imported horsehair were being made to look like the preferred badger-hair brushes. Unfortunately, some of these brushes were not effectively disinfected and brought with them a nasty stowaway: Bacillus anthracis. A review of outbreak summaries, surveillance data, and case reports indicated that these cases originated from the use of ineffectively disinfected animal-hair shaving brushes. This historical information is relevant to current public health practice because renewed interest in vintage and animal-hair shaving brushes has been seen in popular culture."
Curvy Mannequins (Iran)
Since 2009, Iran’s shopkeepers have been prohibited from using mannequins without headscarves or exposing body curves as part of a government campaign against Western influence.
Honestly this is just hilarious. Sad, and dystopian, but hilarious.
Valentine’s Day (Indonesia, Pakistan, And Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, or Pakistan residents cannot celebrate Valentine's Day. Since it is not a Muslim practice and because it emphasizes love that isn’t aimed at God, Pakistan outlawed the holiday in 2017.
Electronic Games In Public Places (Greece) — Abolished
The Greek government approved the controversial Law 3037/2002 in 2002. However, it was eventually repealed in 2012. The law effectively outlawed all electronic games related to gambling, including those running on computers, consoles, and mobile phones, to combat unlawful gambling in the country.
Ok but this seems reasonable since it's to reduce/prevent illegal gambling
Lacy Underwear (Russia, Belarus, And Kazakhstan)
Sales of lacy underwear are prohibited in Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia. Garments in contact with your skin must include at least 6% cotton, according to standards approved in 2013. This was implemented due to health concerns because lace is not a skin-breathable fabric.
Police Whistles (Guatemala)
Among things such as arms, cremated remains, feeding bottles, Gardenia plants and seeds, Guatemala’s conditions for mailing also prohibit mailing police whistles. Why? Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any reasonable explanation. However, apparently, police whistles can be used as weapons and break the eardrum, which causes pain, loss of balance, and possibly even unconsciousness.
Ouch. That must hurt but seriously!? There are much, MUCH more dangerous weapons that ppl are more likely to use
Google Earth, Skype, And Youtube (Morocco)
According to reports, Google Earth, Skype, and YouTube have all been intermittently blocked in Morocco since at least 2006. However, tests carried out in the middle of 2013 revealed that they were all usable. Still, it is impossible to determine the status of a specific website because the blocking is not systematic and constant in time and place, and Morocco’s primary ISP disputes that they intentionally block particular services, blaming technical difficulties.
Why those specifically? I get YouTube but not Skype or Google earth
Import Of Pencils (Tunisia)
Most nations have a standard list of prohibited things, such as weapons and explosives. Yet, some countries have stronger laws than others. For instance, pencil imports are forbidden in Tunisia. Why? Not quite sure. However, items such as crayons, baby feeders with tubes, raisins, and soap are also prohibited.
Candy Eggs (USA)
Kinder Surprise Candy Eggs have been classified as a choking hazard since these chocolate sweets have a little toy within them. Attempts to import this Canadian sweet have resulted in people being detained in airports.
10 children (worldwide) have died as a result of swallowing the toy in the Kinder Eggs. After one particular death, there was a debate in Parliament. It was said, "The child’s tragic death was caused by the ingestion of a small part of the egg’s contents. Many other products and toys with small parts are available in the market place. If we were to start banning every product that could be swallowed by a child, there would be very few toys left in the market". Also, the company is Italian, not Canadian.
In Switzerland there's a long list of animals that are not allowed to be kept on their own. These include Guinea Pigs and other rodents as well as various Parrots. They're considered to be social animals and there must be two or more in order to keep them stimulated.
I've been in Tobago Island. There it is forbidden to wear clothes with a camouflage print as its for exclusive use of the local army.
In Queensland Australia, you can't own a pet rabbit, unless you're a magician. There are a lot of other animals that you can't have as pets, including hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, chinchillas. For a long time I did not realise that hamsters and gerbils were real, because I'd never seen one. I thought they were just different terms for Guinea Pigs!
As a Chinese-American person, some of the comments on the China posts are really rancid. While China banning ridiculous things is obviously wrong, and their government is super corrupt, that doesn't mean you have to call the whole country stupid or terrible. Real people live there. Also, given how the West had treated China and Chinese people in the past, is there any wonder that they don't want much to do with us.
Most people refer to the governments of a country if they mention nationalities. The "Americans" and their silly gun laws, the "Chinese" and their love for oppression or the "Germans" (self reference) and their morale superiority complex. It only appears as if the people of the nations are meant, but that usually isn't the case
Load More Replies...wait never mind me, there are actually sources this time!! thanks BP!
Load More Replies...In the UK it’s illegal to shake out your rugs and carpets outside your house before 8am, doormats are allowed though. Wouldn’t want any visitors to embarrass themselves! You’re welcome!
And here’s me thinking that I was a law abiding citizen.
Load More Replies...Germany - Road Traffic Regulation § 27 (6): It is prohibited to cross bridges in lockstep. It sounds a bit silly, but the resulting resonance from doing that can lead to the collapse of the bridge.
France - it is illegal to land your flying saucer in a Vineyard... i have a scence in my head of first contact going some thing like this: 100's of reporters/camera crews crowding round a hovering alien spacecraft in southern France, then it slowly descends, extending landing feet.... a hush goes through the crowd, a door opens and a ramp descends. A humanoid figure walks down the ramp... the silence is broken by a french police officer (for some reason, in a broad london-esq type voice) says..., Oi! you cant park there mate! try over in the town square, get a ticket mind you!
It is because a flying saucer landing in fields create circles of ruined crop where they touch down. This is espicially visible when the crop is wheat, but can happen to other plants too. Nobody want to loose a few bottle of future vintage wine potentially worh thousands of dollars, just because some aliens went on a picknic.
Load More Replies...In Switzerland there's a long list of animals that are not allowed to be kept on their own. These include Guinea Pigs and other rodents as well as various Parrots. They're considered to be social animals and there must be two or more in order to keep them stimulated.
I've been in Tobago Island. There it is forbidden to wear clothes with a camouflage print as its for exclusive use of the local army.
In Queensland Australia, you can't own a pet rabbit, unless you're a magician. There are a lot of other animals that you can't have as pets, including hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, chinchillas. For a long time I did not realise that hamsters and gerbils were real, because I'd never seen one. I thought they were just different terms for Guinea Pigs!
As a Chinese-American person, some of the comments on the China posts are really rancid. While China banning ridiculous things is obviously wrong, and their government is super corrupt, that doesn't mean you have to call the whole country stupid or terrible. Real people live there. Also, given how the West had treated China and Chinese people in the past, is there any wonder that they don't want much to do with us.
Most people refer to the governments of a country if they mention nationalities. The "Americans" and their silly gun laws, the "Chinese" and their love for oppression or the "Germans" (self reference) and their morale superiority complex. It only appears as if the people of the nations are meant, but that usually isn't the case
Load More Replies...wait never mind me, there are actually sources this time!! thanks BP!
Load More Replies...In the UK it’s illegal to shake out your rugs and carpets outside your house before 8am, doormats are allowed though. Wouldn’t want any visitors to embarrass themselves! You’re welcome!
And here’s me thinking that I was a law abiding citizen.
Load More Replies...Germany - Road Traffic Regulation § 27 (6): It is prohibited to cross bridges in lockstep. It sounds a bit silly, but the resulting resonance from doing that can lead to the collapse of the bridge.
France - it is illegal to land your flying saucer in a Vineyard... i have a scence in my head of first contact going some thing like this: 100's of reporters/camera crews crowding round a hovering alien spacecraft in southern France, then it slowly descends, extending landing feet.... a hush goes through the crowd, a door opens and a ramp descends. A humanoid figure walks down the ramp... the silence is broken by a french police officer (for some reason, in a broad london-esq type voice) says..., Oi! you cant park there mate! try over in the town square, get a ticket mind you!
It is because a flying saucer landing in fields create circles of ruined crop where they touch down. This is espicially visible when the crop is wheat, but can happen to other plants too. Nobody want to loose a few bottle of future vintage wine potentially worh thousands of dollars, just because some aliens went on a picknic.
Load More Replies...