Travelling is exciting, but it also comes with surprises, sometimes in the form of laws that may sound unusual, even bizarre, to outsiders.
What seems perfectly normal at home could land you in trouble abroad.
From chewing gum bans to outlawed video games, here are some of the most strange bans in some country.
Singapore: The sticky case of chewing gum
If you are the type who always carries gum in your pocket, you may want to rethink before flying to Singapore.
Since 1992, the country has enforced a strict ban on the import, sale and manufacture of chewing gum.
Why such a rule? The government wanted to keep public spaces spotless and prevent gum from damaging public transport systems.
Officials once had to spend millions fixing train doors jammed by gum.
Today, only therapeutic gum prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist is allowed.
Breaking the law can attract hefty fines or even jail time.
It may sound extreme, but for Singapore, cleanliness is serious business.
North Korea: No to blue jeans
In most parts of the world, jeans are a wardrobe staple.
But in North Korea, they represent something far bigger: Western influence.
Blue denim, in particular, is seen as a symbol of US imperialism and capitalism.
The government has unofficially banned citizens from wearing blue or skinny jeans.
Those who want to blend in stick to black or darker colours.
State TV has even blurred jeans in foreign shows.
It is a reminder that even something as simple as fashion can carry political meaning in tightly controlled societies.
Saudi Arabia: The Valentine’s Day crackdown
Valentine’s Day is all about roses, chocolates, and love hearts in many countries.
But in Saudi Arabia, February 14 has long been controversial.
For years, religious police banned shops from selling red roses, cards and gifts that could symbolise love.
The reasoning? Authorities argued the holiday promoted un-Islamic values.
Businesses caught breaking the rule risked fines and raids.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has loosened many social restrictions, and some Valentine’s celebrations now take place more openly.
Still, it is far from the public displays of affection you would see elsewhere.
Greece: When video games were outlawed
Imagine walking into an internet café and getting fined just for playing Solitaire.
That was the reality in Greece in 2002, when lawmakers introduced Law 3037/2002, banning all electronic games in public places.
The goal was to curb illegal gambling, but the law went too far.
Suddenly, even harmless games like chess or Pac-Man became illegal in cafés, arcades and restaurants.
The ban sparked outrage and confusion, especially among young people.
The law was eventually relaxed and then repealed in 2011.
Today, Greeks can freely play video games.
The controversial law became a major embarrassment for Greece internationally, even drawing criticism from the European Commission for being overly broad and restrictive of personal freedoms.
Why these laws exist
To outsiders, these rules might sound strange, even funny.
But most of them were introduced for serious reasons.
Singapore’s gum ban protects billions invested in public infrastructure, and North Korea’s jeans ban reflects the regime’s fight against Western culture.
Saudi Arabia’s restrictions align with conservative religious values, while Greece’s video game ban was a (flawed) attempt to fight illegal gambling.
The logic behind them may not always make sense to visitors, but they reflect local priorities, politics, and history.
Understanding these laws is also a matter of cultural respect. While some rules may seem restrictive, they often stem from deeply rooted beliefs or societal concerns.
For travelers, compliance is not just about avoiding fines—it’s about showing awareness and sensitivity to the host country’s norms.
What this means for travellers
Travellers often assume that what is acceptable at home is acceptable everywhere, but laws abroad can be very different.
Some come with steep penalties, including fines or even jail.
Before you pack your bags, it is always wise to research local customs and rules.
What feels harmless—chewing gum, wearing jeans, buying flowers or playing games—might carry consequences overseas.
So next time you travel, remember: every country has its own story to tell through its laws.
And while they may seem unusual to us, they often reveal something deeper about what that society values most.
