Buzz
Bans are an unavoidable part of life. While we may not always agree with them, we typically recognize the reasons behind them. Take, for example, the ban on drinking and driving—we all understand that it enhances safety with minimal sacrifice.
However, there are some individuals who are so frustrated by specific bans that they get creatively defiant, using their ingenuity to challenge the system.
Innovative rule-breakers—where others see restrictions, they see an opportunity to get inventive.
7. Friends Create Their Own Island to Escape the Alcohol Ban
Coromandel is a part of the Thames-Coromandel district on New Zealand’s North Island. Renowned for its beautiful beaches, lush forests, and laid-back atmosphere, Coromandel is home to about 30,000 residents.
However, as 2017 came to a close, the calm atmosphere was disrupted when a public drinking ban was imposed for the New Year period. Those who chose to ignore it faced a hefty fine of $180 US or the risk of arrest.
So, what does a group of friends determined to enjoy some drinks on New Year’s Eve do? They build an island, of course! Wait, did I just say that?
This group of dedicated drinkers set to work at low tide in the Tairua estuary—piling sand high enough to create an island once the tide came in. They even added a picnic table and an ice chest. Sure enough, as the tide rose, they made their way to their sandy island and rang in 2018 with a few too many drinks to count.
They claimed their unique location allowed it, insisting they were in international waters.
Naturally, when the police got wind of this ridiculous stunt, it was handcuffs and jail for the whole crew of ban violators.
“Now that’s some creative thinking—had I known about it, I might have joined them myself,”
Those words were spoken by the local police commander, Inspector John Kelly.
Indeed, New Zealand police have a sense of humor. Not only that, but Sandra Goudie, Mayor of Thames-Coromandel, shares the same playful spirit. She even pointed to the sandy escapade as a perfect example of, “...the inventive spirit of the people of Thames-Coromandel.”
6. Music Website Uses Lego to Sidestep Photo Ban
Some major bands prevent local music photographers from capturing their performances when they visit their city by refusing to issue photo passes.
On one such occasion, music site GoldenPlec sought to send a photographer to cover a concert by The Killers. However, The Killers turned down the request—which, to be fair, aligns with their name choice.
Rather than sulking about it, GoldenPlec turned lemons into lemonade. They got inventive and created LEGO figures of The Killers and snapped photos of them. Surprisingly, their concert review was mostly positive.
Photographer Debbie Hickey crafted the LEGO models of the band and took the pictures. She wrote,
“The reason for this was because the band have a strict no photographers rule…As they were one of my favourite bands I hoped to shoot, I was left feeling a little deflated. Their O2 gig in Dublin this weekend was no different. Photographers be gone! No photopass? No problem! If I can’t shoot them, I’ll build them. Never let it be said that GoldenPlec doesn’t get the shot.”
Although she faced some difficulty finding all the necessary plastic blocks to complete the project, it took her just 30 minutes to build and snap the photos.
5. Student Takes Action After Backpack Ban
In 2018, Spalding Grammar School in Lincolnshire, U.K., made the decision to ban backpacks from their hallways. This was in response to an incident where a staff member and two students were injured by large backpacks.
Frustrated by the ban, student Hannah Catterall rallied support by gathering 463 signatures on a petition to have it reversed. In response, the school removed the petition.
This is when fellow student Jacob Ford decided to get involved, writing a 3,300-word letter arguing that the backpack ban was unreasonable. The school ignored his letter. Naturally, Ford decided to escalate the situation further.
One day, he arrived with his books packed into a cooking pot. The next day—into a sandwich bag. On another day—a piece of a lawn mower. Finally, Ford took things to the next level, arriving with his books inside a microwave oven.
The school was far from amused. Headteacher Steven Wilkinson, a self-declared enemy of microwave book bags, responded in the press, saying, “We have a student who has acted in an increasingly inappropriate manner, doing things I’ve never seen before, and has been disciplined according to the school’s policies.”
Ford’s mother, however, was fully supportive, saying, “I’m proud that he felt strongly enough to take a stand and do something about it.” She added, “We all have a right to be heard. So hats off to him.”
Believing her rebellious son no longer had a fair shot at Spalding, his mother, Tracy Ford, decided to transfer him to another school.
4. Soccer Fans Rebel Against Rainbow Flag Ban in Russia
In 2013, Russian President—who is notably bad at hockey despite the widespread pretense that he isn't—Vladimir Putin signed a controversial ‘gay propaganda’ law.
The legislation prohibits the “promotion of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.” Unsurprisingly, the consequences have been grim, with an increase in violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and the closure of websites and support groups for the vulnerable community. It also bans the rainbow flag.
However, banning a flag made up of different colors was no match for a group of bold and inventive Latin activists. Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, which Russia was hosting, these fearless freedom fighters paraded around Russia with their own mobile, makeshift rainbow flag—and nobody noticed—not even the Russian police.
This was because each activist wore a national soccer jersey, each representing a different color of the famous, banned rainbow flag. The jerseys came from Spain (red), The Netherlands (orange), Brazil (yellow), Mexico (green), Argentina (blue), and Colombia (purple).
The woman in the Argentina jersey, Vanesa Paola Ferrario, captured the sentiment perfectly, saying, “For me, Russia is a symbol of homophobia, with a government that lets discriminators be protected by law, and a place where people aren’t free to love.”
The creative and vibrant display of resistance quickly gained traction online under the hashtag ‘#HiddenFlag’.
The protest was conceived by the digital agency LOLA Mullenlowe in collaboration with Spain’s largest LGBTQ+ organization, FELGTB.
Pancho Cassis, Executive Creative Director at LOLA, expressed his excitement over the campaign’s success, saying, “Visibility always comes with risk, but doing it in front of thousands of World Cup fans and the media is what inspired us to launch this bold protest. The #HiddenFlag brings attention to the people in Russia who face daily discrimination and fear.”
3. Banned Football Fan Steps Up to the Challenge
Football (or soccer, as it’s called in the U.S.) is incredibly important in Turkey. While it may not rival countries like Germany or Italy in terms of size, Turkey’s football league generated 731 million Euros ($791 million USD) in revenue during the 2017-2018 season.
A fan known as “Yamuk Ali” might just be the most football-obsessed person in all of Turkey.
Back in 2018, Yamuk Ali found himself banned for a full year from attending matches at the Denizli Ataturk Stadium in Denizli, Turkey.
However, this die-hard fan wasn’t going to let a silly year-long ban stop him from supporting his beloved Denizlispor. As the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, you rent a crane.”
And that’s exactly what Ali did—he rented a crane tall enough to peek over the stadium wall and watch his team take on rival Gaziantepspor. Thankfully, his team crushed them 5-0, which in baseball terms would be like a 20-0 blowout.
2. Greek Man Finds Loophole in Smoking Ban
A decade after Greece introduced an anti-smoking law, the government finally decided it was time to enforce it.
It seemed to be working. According to government records, 84% of the 603 locations inspected had only 11 violations. Smokers were fined $1,210.49 US, while business owners faced fines of $42,367.32 US.
However, one devoted smoker found a loophole in the ban—quite literally.
He placed his cigarette in a crack in a café’s front window, allowing the burning end of the cigarette to stick outside. He inhaled the smoke and then exhaled through a plastic straw he’d positioned just above the cigarette. Technically—and comically—he wasn’t smoking indoors.
Finding a way around a ban and having fun in the process—some people are just born rebels.
1. Iranian Women Fans Find a Sneaky Way to Beat the Ban
In October 2019, Iran finally lifted its 40-year ban on women attending sports events.
However, back in 2014, when the ban was still in place, female volleyball fans had to get creative if they wanted to witness their national team play in person.
Outside the stadiums, the “morality police” kept a watchful eye on women, stopping them from entering. But there was a loophole—the ban didn’t apply to women cheering for foreign teams.
So when Brazil came to Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to face Iran, a brave group of Iranian women wore Brazilian team jerseys. With some help from Brazilian supporters, they managed to slip past the morality police and into the stadium without a hitch.
Around twelve women managed to sneak into the game, proudly cheering for their team from the stands.
Now that the ban has been lifted, Iranian women can finally wear their own national team’s jerseys while supporting their country’s athletes. Imagine that freedom.
