{"id":3586,"date":"2019-03-06T15:55:34","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T15:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/?p=3586"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:42:21","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:42:21","slug":"7-unusual-laws-and-customs-from-around-the-world-that-you-didnt-know-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/7-unusual-laws-and-customs-from-around-the-world-that-you-didnt-know-about\/","title":{"rendered":"7 unusual laws and customs from around the world that you didn\u2019t know about"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chewing gum, wearing fancy dress or feeding pigeons are all acceptable acts in the UK. However, as innocent as these may seem, these are some of the reasons why many British citizens get into trouble abroad and sometimes face paying hefty fines or even face being arrested or detained. Customs that are commonplace and accepted in the UK may not be in other countries and could carry severe consequences. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office highlights that a lot of cases abroad could be avoided by simply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\">researching travel destinations in advance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/email-signup\">staying up-to-date<\/a> with local news and warnings.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\"><\/a> <br>We\u2019ve put together a list of some of the most unusual laws and customs from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Venice \u2013 Feeding the pigeons is against the law. <br><\/strong>This is especially for St Mark\u2019s square in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/italy\/local-laws-and-customs\">Venice<\/a> where the enormous amount of pigeons is said to be contributing to the decay of buildings and monuments and pose a potential health risk. If caught feeding the pigeons, you would be fined on the spot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Caribbean \u2013 No camouflage attire in the Caribbean. <br><\/strong>According to the FCO, it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/barbados\/local-laws-and-customs\">Barbados<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/st-lucia\/local-laws-and-customs\">St Lucia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/st-vincent-and-the-grenadines\/local-laws-and-customs\">St Vincent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Spain \u2013 Illegal beachwear <br><\/strong>It is against the law to wear a bikini, swimming trunks or to go bare-chested away from the beach in many parts of Spain. This includes the seafront promenade and adjacent streets. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/spain\/local-laws-and-customs\">The FCO warns that if caught doing so, fines will be imposed.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Japan \u2013 illegal over-the-counter drugs<br><\/strong>Taking some commonly available nasal sprays containing pseudoephedrine into Japan are illegal as well as products containing codeine which can be found in Vicks inhalers. Japan has strict laws about what prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be brought in. Many of these are very common in the UK, so check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/japan\">FCO advice<\/a> if you are planning in bringing any medication into Japan.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Netherlands \u2013 Drugs are a no go. <br><\/strong>The FCO warns that \u201cwhile the Netherlands has a reputation for being tolerant on the use of so-called \u2018soft drugs\u2019 this exists only for designated areas. Possession of prohibited substances or buying them can carry a prison sentence.\u201d Be extremely careful when travelling about and make sure you\u2019re familiar with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/netherlands\/local-laws-and-customs\">local laws and customs in the Netherlands.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Greece \u2013 No mooning. <br><\/strong>The FCO warns visitors that indecent behaviour, including mooning, is not tolerated in Greece. The police will make arrests, if caught behaving indecently, and hefty fines or even prison sentences will be imposed. The FCO adds that, \u201csome fancy dress costumes may be regarded as offensive and therefore against decency laws.\u201d To ensure you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/travelaware.campaign.gov.uk\/\">travel aware<\/a> before visiting Greece, take a note of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/greece\/local-laws-and-customs\">local laws and customs <\/a>and avoid getting yourself in a difficult situation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Singapore \u2013 drop the gum. <br><\/strong>It is important to note that a range of behaviours which are tolerated in the UK are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/singapore\/local-laws-and-customs\">not necessarily tolerated in Singapore<\/a>. On-the-spot fines are common for certain actions deemed unacceptable. These include chewing gum (which is also illegal to bring into the country), smoking in certain public areas and littering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For travel advice, information and tips, simply head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\">The Foreign and Commonwealth Office\u2019s website<\/a> and their <a href=\"https:\/\/travelaware.campaign.gov.uk\/\">Travel Aware page<\/a> to help you plan your trip and stay travel aware! Follow the FCO on Twitter @FCOtravel, watch their videos on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/fcotravel\">YouTube<\/a> and add them on Facebook @fcotravel to get instant access to all of the latest travel updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chewing gum, wearing fancy dress or feeding pigeons are all acceptable acts in the UK. However, as innocent as these may seem, these are some of the reasons why many [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":1433,"featured_media":3588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[270],"tags":[380,342,378,41],"class_list":["post-3586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-programmes","tag-fco","tag-global-opportunities","tag-travel-abroad","tag-travel-advice"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4QQbz-VQ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3625,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/the-ultimate-summer-holiday-checklist\/","url_meta":{"origin":3586,"position":0},"title":"The ultimate summer holiday checklist","author":"Kimberly Field","date":"July 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Travelling soon? Ensure you\u2019re prepared with our summer checklist. Planning your trip abroad definitely isn\u2019t the most exciting part, however it is the most vital part to ensure your safety and overall preparedness. Plus, it doesn\u2019t have to be as stressful as you may think! The FCO Travel Aware page\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Summer Programmes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Summer Programmes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/summer-programmes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2018\/12\/received_2213902454410711302-scaled.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3577,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/culture-shock-in-france\/","url_meta":{"origin":3586,"position":1},"title":"Culture Shock in France!","author":"Kimberly Field","date":"January 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Culture shock. All travellers have experienced the same. When you first arrive in a country, it can be tricky adjusting to the new culture. The way of life can be so different to the one back home! Although the UK and France are not worlds apart, some aspects of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Summer Programmes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Summer Programmes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/summer-programmes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/01\/IMG_20170925_005834_690-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5028,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/jessica-leung\/","url_meta":{"origin":3586,"position":2},"title":"Jessica Leung","author":"GO Student Ambassadors","date":"December 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Cardiff Business School International Exchange \/ Erasmus+ Study Placement Where did you go? The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Copenhagen Business School, Denmark What motivated you to take up a year abroad? Having lived in the UK my whole life and with the additional pressure of graduating\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/11\/image5-150x150.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5965,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/5965-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":3586,"position":3},"title":"Studying in Berlin!","author":"Global Opportunities Globetrotters","date":"May 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Name: Anagha Sivram Academic school: School of History, Archaeology and Religion Type of Global Opportunity: Year of Study Abroad at Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin in Germany \u00a0 What motivated you to take up a Global Opportunity? I wanted to experience living and studying abroad. I loved the idea of taking on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2025\/05\/GO-photo4_Anagha-Sivram-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2307,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/lingo-map-careers-and-employability\/","url_meta":{"origin":3586,"position":4},"title":"Lingo Map: Careers and Employability","author":"Molly Timmons","date":"June 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s official. My year abroad is (pretty much) officially over. I\u2019ve had the most amazing year of my life and now it\u2019s time to get back to the normality (and scary prospect of final year) in Britain. 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