Every country is different, and every country’s laws are different. Sometimes these laws border on the seriously ridiculous, and other times they point to important cultural values that might be different than your own.
It’s Illegal to Chew Gum in Singapore
Sometimes we all suffer when fools break the rules. After vandals used chewing gum to mess with the Mass Rapid Transit system and the Housing and Development Board spent $150,000 a year to clean gum liter, Singapore banned all gum substances in 1992.
Canadian Radio Stations Must Play Canadian Artists
The Canadians are a patriotic bunch. So much so that all Canadian radio stations are required, by law, to play Canadian artists on the airwaves at least 35 percent of the time, especially during the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This means that in an hour of radio during the workweek, you’ll hear more than 20 minutes of artists like Nickelback, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, Michael Bublé and Justin Bieber — all of whom are proud Canucks.
It’s Illegal to Hike Naked in Switzerland
After Swiss and German travelers decided to make naked hiking a thing in Switzerland a decade ago (really!), Swiss officials reminded folks that a public indecency law still exists and you can be fined if caught in the woods in the buff.
In 2011, a Swiss man was fined more than $100 for his bare-bottomed walk.
It’s Illegal to Feed Pigeons in Venice, Italy
With thousands of pigeons descending upon Saint Mark’s Square and Venice. Lured by the the tourists readily handing out food in exchange for Instagram-worthy photos, Venice lawmakers officially made it illegal to feed the pesky fowl in 2008.
It is said the cleanup from the birds cost each citizen €275 per year, so now, the tables are turned. If you’re caught feeding the pigeons, you could face fines of up to €700. Better to get the picture-perfect shot of Venice’s beautiful bridges instead.
Don’t Wear Your Winnie the Pooh T-Shirt in Poland
The cuddly little bear all stuffed with fluff also — gasp! — does not wear pants. Because of this, Poland issued a ban on Winnie the Pooh around playgrounds and schools, finding the A.A. Milne character a bit too risqué for the likes of impressionable children.
