13 Weird Things Other Countries Strictly Forbid

The law was intended to crack down on illegal gambling, but legislators apparently didn't know the difference between electronic gambling devices and video game consoles, so citizens were prohibited from playing any electronic game in public.

Fortunately for Greek gamers, the law was declared unconstitutional before the year was out in a landmark case that would have seen two internet café owners face three months of jail time for letting customers play Counter-Strike.

The move was apparently supposed to "protect Chinese youth from wasting their minds on video games" but seemed to only create a $100 million market for online gaming.

The Chinese government finally lifted the ban in 2015 after a successful "economic reform" experiment in Shanghai but maintains a watchful eye over any content that would "harm national unity ... [or] violate public morality."

This is because of the 1977 Prohibited Restaurants Act, which blocks any foreign restaurant chains from operating in Bermuda and imposes either six months of jail time or a $5,000 fine for trying to open such a franchise.

The only exception is the single KFC restaurant in Hamilton, Bermuda because it opened in 1970 and was grandfathered in.

Actually, it's more accurate to say they were restricted to employees of foreign business and state officials under Fidel Castro's leadership. His brother Raúl decided to lift the restrictions after he assumed power.

The nation's cultural ministry released a list of approved hairstyles and targeted "decadent" haircuts like ponytails or mullets. A violator's first offence would result in a forced cut and repeat offenders would face fines.

Moreover, police could shut down any barbershop that helped someone achieve their prohibited look.

Legislators considered emo a "dangerous teen trend" that could "encourage depression, social withdrawal, and even suicide." So, they moved for strict regulations on emo websites and to bar emo and goth fashions from schools and public buildings.

However, the bill apparently died and no legal restrictions against emo culture ever became a reality.

Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, wanted the city state to be an oasis of perfection in Asia, and his policies had a particular focus on public cleanliness. He saw the habit of sticking gum everywhere as an enemy of progress and was apparently worried that people would jam the doors of subway trains with the stuff, so he pushed for its ban in 1992.

Writer Tom Plate said that gum is now "largely legally chewable" thanks to a 2004 reform allowing pharmacists and dentists to sell therapeutic gum, but most Singaporeans still don't bother chewing it.

While initial reports described the policy as an outright ban, Professor Nie Wei at Shanghai University said it amounts to strongly worded guidelines for television and movie producers.

The government's beef with time travel apparently has to do with the "bizarre" plots involved that treat "serious history in a frivolous way."

The Chinese government removed videos of their president singing about the flower from the internet, banned the sale of them in Beijing, and even blocked text messages with the word "jasmine" in them. This left the flower's growers with falling prices and limited options for buyers.

But why did they do this?

When the government of Tunisia was overthrown, it was known as the Jasmine Revolution. Anonymous calls for a similar revolt in China appeared over the internet, which led the government to consider the flower a dangerous symbol of subversion.

The condiment is only allowed on French fries and those are only to be served once a week in cafeterias as part of government programs to promote healthy eating. All school cafeterias must keep records for health officials of what has been served and ensure their menus meet state approval.

For kids who crave ketchup, their only option is to go home for lunch because French students aren't allowed to bring home-prepared lunches with them.

Apparently, then-dictator Nicolae Ceausescu considered the game "overly intellectual" and "a subversive evil."

The bags' harmful effects on the environment have led organizations across the world to start phasing them out, but Taiwan put their ban in place back in 2003. However, their Environmental Protection Administration eased some restrictions in 2006 and allowed food service operators to offer them again.

The kingdom's religious police strictly enforce the holiday's ban. One year, five men were imprisoned and lashed for dancing with women they were not related to in celebration of the day.

Despite the harsh penalties, some shop owners will sell traditional Valentines. However, these shops will only do so over the phone and also hide their red roses in the back of their stores.