14 Things That Are Banned In Other Countries But Perfectly Fine In The U.S.

By Suzanne in Facts On 16th March 2016
advertisement

#1 Spanking - Sweden

Any forms of physical punishment towards children, has been illegal in Sweden since 1979.

#2 Strip clubs - Iceland

The first country in the world to ban stripping and lapdancing for feminist, rather than religious reasons. It is illegal for business to profit from nude employees since 2010.

advertisement

#3 Baby walkers - Canada

Health Canada reveal 1,900 babies suffered from head injury caused by baby walkers and it delays motor development. It was banned in 2007.

#4 Plastic bags - Bangladesh

Banned since 2002. South Africa and Italy have followed, make it illegal for grocery stores to provide free plastic bags.

advertisement

#5 Gum - Singapore

Sale of the item is prohibited since 1992. Chewing a stick of gum or spitting it out can lead to a steep fine.

advertisement

#6 Unisex names - Germany

A person's first name must clearly indicate their gender. You cannot be named unisex names like Sam and Alex, or naming a girl Robert, or last names (i.e. Anderson, Emerson).

advertisement

#7 Incandescent light bulbs - Cuba

The first countries to ban bulbs that consume additional power to heat metallic filaments in 2005

advertisement

#8 Tobacco - Bhutan

The only country in the world to completely ban the production and sale of tobacco products in 2004.

advertisement

# Turning right on a red light - New Zealand

Technically it's turning left on a red because New Zealand drives on the left side of the road but it's the same concept.

advertisement

#10 Ketchup - France

In 2011 France banned ketchup in primary school cafeterias, implying that ketchup is in some way ruining French cuisine.

advertisement

#11 Mullets - Iran

Western hairdos like mullets, gelled spiky hair and male ponytails can be cut off by the police.

advertisement

#12 Ractopamine - Russia

Ractopamine is a drug used to reduce the fat content in an animal with harmful effect to humans. As the US doesn

t test for the presence of the drug in its meat, Russia has banned US meat imports.

#13 Advertising to children - Sweden

TV ads that specifically directed at children under the age of 12 have been banned since 1991, as children couldn't differentiate between advertising and regular programming.

advertisement

#14 Valentine's Day - Saudi Arabia

Not only banned, but also actively prevents celebration by raiding any floral arrangements, chocolates or gifts for sale in mid February.