America is known as the “Land of the Free,” which comes as a surprise to many overseas who are allowed to do things that are banned nationwide. Our European counterparts march to a different drum and have differing societal norms and traditions. These are things that they find acceptable and we don’t. Perhaps that’s why other nations tend to view our country as more conservative than others.
Drinking in Public
Drinking in the United States is reserved for being at a private home or being served in a bar. Sometimes, it is legal to drive within boundaries like an event or festival. It is illegal to take your drink on the go. You also can't take it in a car, even if the person drinking is not the driver. Drinking is an activity that is mostly left up to local ordinances. So you can sometimes get away with drinking on various streets, but it is rare and not the norm. In most European countries, where you go, alcoholic beverages can follow.
Cannabis
Cannabis is just starting to be recognized as a powerful tool for medicinal uses. It is, however, highly regulated and under lock and key. Marijuana, for all reasons, even when medical, is still not legal in several states. Only 24 of the 50 states allow marijuana for recreational use. At a Federal level, however, it is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug, so you can face stiff penalties, fines, and, in some instances, jail time for partaking in it.
Gambling
American laws seem to always be trying to save us from ourselves. Sports betting is only legal in 40 states. In some of those, however, it is not legal online, only in retail outlets. In most of Europe, it is legal to bet as you want. For most in Europe, it is a favorite pastime.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking used to be a popular way for those without the resources to pay for public transportation or a car to go from one place to another. Due to the risk associated with taking rides from strangers, however, the US banned the practice. In countries like New Zealand, Europe, and Japan, you can hitchhike freely anywhere besides directly on the highway.
Drinking Until a Certain Age
Most European countries have either no drinking age or 18, meaning that alcohol is permitted for anyone, and it is usually left up to the parent to monitor the drinking habits of their children. In the US, no one is allowed to drink legally until they reach the age of 21. Some states do allow for those underage to drink in the presence of an adult and on private property, but not all of them. So, you can go to war to fight for your country at the age of 18, but can’t drink alcoholic beverages until you are mature enough at 21.
Kinder Eggs
Kinder Eggs are little eggs of chocolate that have toys hidden in the center. In 1938, there was a law that states that you are not allowed to hide toys that are inedible inside edible things. Due to our need to protect our citizens on a grand scale, the toys hidden in the Kinder Surprise Eggs are not allowed to be distributed here. The American Government sees them as a choking hazard.
Taxes
In the US, people who hold dual citizenship have to pay US taxes if they meet a threshold. The IRS does not care if you already pay taxes in other countries where you work or even if you don’t live in the US. Most other countries do not hold you accountable for paying for roadways and other administrative costs if you don’t live and take advantage of those things.
The Use of Plastic Bags
Europe has prohibited the use of single-use plastic bags, but Americans still buy them in abundance. Only twelve states in the US have banned them, so they are still widely used. Plastic is a material that threatens our environment and the health of our citizens and our planet, but safety concerns seem to not be a concern in the States.
How People Live
There is a law that only one state adheres to, probably with good reason. North Carolina law states that you can’t live without a partner unless you have a marriage license. Virginia used to have the same law, but it has since been outlawed. Not being able to live with who you want as a grown adult is definitely something that most people in the States and overseas have a hard time comprehending.
Cheese and Milk
In the US, only pasteurized milk is allowed to be sold. When you pasteurize it, you not only take out the rich nutrients, you change the flavor and the consistency of it. European countries have no problem with unpasteurized milk; they prefer it. What they do take issue with and ban are things like Skittles, Gatorade, and Frosted Flakes, all of which have science-based research saying that it is not good for anyone.
Pet Ferrets
Americans do have a ban on many creatures as pets with a good reason. But ferrets are one of the ones that are banned from ownership in Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and California. Why the US chooses ferrets as dangerous when snakes and other exotic animals are fine is questionable at best. In Japan and almost all of Europe, ferrets are enjoyed as pets by millions as long as they are chipped and vaccinated.
Battery Covers Without Screws
According to statistics from 2022 to 2022, battery deaths average about two a year, with some years being zero. Yet, anytime that an American wants to change the battery out of a child’s toy, they have to search for a screwdriver. With so many other things to worry about, it seems a bit much that the government would choose something as random.
Why the Bans?
Some of the things that the US bans, that are completely fine for other countries might have you scratching your head. The reason America bans things is not exactly clear. When chemicals and foods are banned overseas because they are known carcinogens but they are not here, it makes you wonder why the government has to put screws on battery cases, just in case. Harmful foods, however, are found on the aisles of your local grocery market.
Final Words
A society must protect the least of its community. America can sometimes take it too far and infringe on people’s right to freedom. Then, when they probably should step in to protect our citizens, like with food items, they overlook the harms. If something is banned, don’t automatically assume it should be. If it isn’t, don’t automatically assume that it is. Be a smart citizen and consumer to protect yourself and your family.
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