Buzz
Despite our belief in living in a free society, bans are ever-present, from prohibitions to books. While some of these may not impact everyone, others certainly do. Additionally, the idea of a small group (politicians) deciding what the majority can or cannot access is deeply problematic. Here’s a list of ten controversial bans that have sparked debates.
10. Trans Fats
Food manufacturers prefer trans fats because they prolong shelf life and are made from cheaper oils, reducing production costs. The main issue with trans fats is that the body struggles to break down these fatty acids, leading to their accumulation, which can cause high cholesterol and even heart disease. Denmark was the first to implement a ban in 2003, limiting trans fats to less than 2% in food products, which helps keep daily intake under one gram. Switzerland followed suit with a similar ban in 2008.
Did You Know? The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a lawsuit against KFC over its use of trans fats in their fried menu items. KFC responded by exploring other oil options, stating that “there are a number of factors to consider including maintaining KFC’s unique taste and flavor of Colonel Sanders’ Original Recipe.” In 2006, the company declared it would replace the partially hydrogenated soybean oil with a zero-trans-fat, low-linoleic soybean oil across all its locations, though biscuits would still contain trans fats.
9. Baby Walkers
In 2004, Canada’s Health Minister announced a swift ban on baby walkers, following reports of 1,935 injuries between 1990 and 2002. The ministry concluded that babies lack the necessary skills, reflexes, or cognitive abilities to safely use these products. The most frequent accidents involved babies falling down stairs. The ban prevents the sale, advertisement, or import of baby walkers, making Canada the only country to enforce such a restriction.
Did You Know? Many parents assume that baby walkers help children learn to walk faster, but studies show this isn’t the case. In fact, they may delay walking by as much as two to three weeks.
8. Incandescent Light Bulbs
The compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb lasts five years longer and uses about 75% less energy, which has led many nations to pass laws aimed at phasing out incandescent light bulbs. In 2007, Australia introduced a law to become one of the first countries to ban incandescent bulbs outright by 2010. Cuba swapped out all incandescent bulbs for CFLs and banned their sale and import in 2005. The EU set a plan to phase out incandescent bulbs by 2012. California has passed a law to eliminate them by 2018. While New Zealand's previous government passed a similar ban, the new government repealed it after facing public backlash.
Did You Know? Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), like all fluorescent lighting, contain small traces of mercury vapor inside the glass. Typically, each bulb holds about 4.0 mg of mercury. If a CFL breaks, the mercury is released, meaning that cleaning up and disposing of broken CFLs requires special care compared to incandescent bulbs.
7. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum was banned in Singapore in 1992 and was revised in 2004. Incorrect disposal of chewing gum on chairs, tables, floors and on the door sensors of the new metro system led to the ban. Regulations also did not make any provisions for personal use of quantities to be brought into Singapore. Therefore, bringing chewing gum into Singapore, even in small quantities was prohibited. In 2004 the Singapore Government recognized the proven health benefits of certain gums such as sugar-free gum that contains calcium lactate to strengthen tooth enamel. Medical gum was then allowed provided it was sold by a dentist or pharmacist who must take down the names of the buyers. Singapore is the only country with a chewing gum ban.
Interesting Fact: The Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company enlisted the help of a Washington, D.C lobbyist and the chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, to get chewing gum on the agenda of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. This caused the 2004 revised ban allowing the medical improvement type gum.
6. Smoking on Movie & TV Screens
In 2005, India became the first nation to impose a ban on smoking and tobacco use in films and TV shows, forbidding any scenes that depict the consumption of tobacco products. When an actor smokes or uses tobacco on-screen, television channels are required to blur the image. Films that include such scenes must display a scrolling warning at the bottom of the screen, cautioning viewers about the risks of tobacco use.
Fun Fact: Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court lifted the federal ban on actors smoking in films, arguing that it reflects reality and that censoring it would infringe upon the fundamental rights of creative artists to freedom of speech and expression.
5. Plastic Bags
Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are used globally every year. Bangladesh was the first to implement an outright ban on plastic bags in 2002 after discovering that the bags clogged drains, which contributed significantly to the catastrophic floods of 1988 and 1998. The issue with plastic bags is that they don’t decompose in landfills, posing a threat to marine life. South Africa has banned thin plastic bags and taxes thicker ones, and similar measures are being considered in many countries. In the United States, San Francisco and Oakland have already fully banned plastic shopping bags, encouraging the use of reusable and compostable alternatives.
Fun Fact: Choosing between paper or plastic bags may be a matter of selecting which resource to consume. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that the plastic bags used in the U.S. each year require around 12 million barrels of oil to produce, while paper bags necessitate the cutting down of approximately 14 million trees. Interestingly, plastic bags take up less landfill space than paper bags.
4. Super Skinny Models
The movement to ban super-skinny or size-zero models started in 2006 after the tragic death of 22-year-old model Luisel Ramos (pictured right), who passed away from a heart attack shortly after leaving the catwalk. For three months, she had reportedly subsisted solely on green leaves and diet soda. Her modeling agency allegedly told her that her future in the industry depended on losing significant weight. In response, stylists and the Italian government jointly declared that all models in shows must have a body mass index (BMI) of 18 or higher and must be “full-bodied and healthy.” Madrid’s fashion show also implemented a ban on models with a BMI below 18, and there have been calls for similar measures at London fashion events.
Fun Fact: In early 2007, Luisel’s 18-year-old sister, Eliana Ramos (pictured left), who was also a model, tragically passed away from a heart attack, believed to be related to malnutrition.
3. Parental Spanking
Sweden became the first country to outlaw parental spanking in 1979. It took many years before other nations followed suit, but now a total of 24 countries have implemented similar bans. The most recent countries to join this group include Venezuela, Uruguay, Portugal, Spain, and New Zealand in 2007 (though a referendum is being held to determine if the anti-smacking bill should be reversed, following a change in government), as well as Costa Rica and the Republic of Moldova in 2008. Various studies have been conducted to assess the effects of Sweden’s spanking ban. Some suggest it has led to a near-zero rate of child abuse in the country, while others show that Sweden has a lower rate of child abuse-related deaths compared to 20 out of 27 developed countries. However, another recent Swedish report indicated that the ban has had little effect on reducing other forms of problematic physical punishment.
Fun Fact: In the United States, parents are allowed to spank or paddle their children in all 50 states. Corporal punishment is still legal in public schools in 23 states. Meanwhile, Canada has banned corporal punishment for children under two years old and over twelve, as well as the use of any objects like paddles.
2. Smoking and Tobacco Sales
Smokers worldwide are well aware of the recent regulations that have significantly impacted their habits. In 2004, Ireland became the first nation to enforce a nationwide ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars. Then, in 2008, Bhutan, a small country nestled between India and China, became the first to completely outlaw both smoking and the sale of tobacco. Authorities marked this historic decision by lighting a giant bonfire of cigarettes in the capital and displaying banners encouraging citizens to quit smoking. Violators of this strict tobacco ban are fined $232, a hefty amount equating to more than two months' salary. However, this ban has led to a rise in the illegal trade of tobacco products in the country. As of now, Bhutan remains the only country to have banned both smoking and the sale of tobacco products entirely.
Fun Fact: The first modern, nationwide tobacco ban was enacted by the Nazi Party. Smoking was prohibited in German universities, post offices, military hospitals, and Nazi Party offices. In 1941, Adolf Hitler ordered the creation of the Institute for Tobacco Hazards Research. Anti-tobacco campaigns were heavily promoted by the Nazis until the regime ended in 1945.
1. Circus Animals
This is the latest ban in place, which gained significant momentum after members of Bolivia's animal rights group went undercover to expose the conditions in circuses. Their investigation revealed that animals were kept in cages so small they couldn’t move around, forced to endure these confined spaces for most of their lives. In response, the Bolivian Senate voted in favor of the ban, which was signed into law by President Morales in July 2009. Similar bans exist in countries such as Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, and Denmark, where certain species of wild animals are not allowed in circuses. Bolivia stands out as the first and only country to ban both wild and domestic animals from performing in traveling circuses.
Interesting Fact: The growing awareness about animal cruelty in circuses has prompted the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to publish a fact sheet detailing the treatment of their animals. You can read the fact sheet here.
