10 things that used to be normal but are now illegal (11 photos)

Weddings at 12 years old, children without car seats and drunk drivers: what things were previously considered the norm.





It seems that the only constant in our world is change. Cities change, attitudes to life change, even our habits change. For example, here are things that were once popular, but are now considered illegal.

Don't use seat belts



Just thirty or forty years ago, wearing a seat belt in a car was considered optional. Most drivers and passengers in the car did not use seat belts at all.

Children without car seats





Just a quarter of a century ago, no one even knew about restraints, and children rode quietly in the back seat, and sometimes in a very large company.

Airport pick-ups were different



Still from the film “The Incredible Adventures of the Italians”

Once upon a time there was no such strict security at airports, and you could meet your loved one right where he got off the plane.

Smoking in public places



About 15-20 years ago you could smoke in many public places. People sat quietly in the cafe with cigarettes, and if visitors did not want to smell of smoke, then they had to look for a non-smoking room. There were also smoking areas in hospitals, shops, and near educational buildings.

Cocaine license



Cocaine was not considered a drug for a long time and was completely legal. So, in the 19th century, it was used to whiten teeth, improve digestion, and it even went so far that runners chewed coca leaves directly during training in order to achieve better results. Well, the famous Coca-Cola got its name for a reason: for more than twenty years, the drink was made from cola nuts and coca leaves.

Selling dynamite



In many countries, dynamite in the past could be purchased at a hardware store. For example, it was often used to clear an area of old trees.

Opium tinctures that were given even to children



Until the beginning of the twentieth century, laudanum, an opium-based tincture, was popular. The medicine was excellent at helping to cope with insomnia (of course!), it was also prescribed for indigestion, coughing, pain and bleeding. It was quite normal to give the child laudanum at night to help him sleep better.

Teenage weddings were the norm



Frank Dixie "Romeo and Juliet" (1884).

Remember Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's heroes, who were 16 and 13 years old. Weddings at this age were once the norm. So, in England in Shakespeare's times, 12-year-old girls could easily get married. To give Shakespeare his due, he was right about the violent passions to which teenagers are subject.

Drunk driving



In many countries, a similar rule still applies today: for example, in the USA and France, 0.8 ppm of alcohol in the blood is considered acceptable.

Clothing and interior items made from asbestos



Nurses in a London hospital cover a patient with an asbestos blanket. Photo: wikipedia.org

Until the 19th century, asbestos was actively used for the production of handbags, hats, lace, and tablecloths. It was indeed possible to create real masterpieces from fibrous material. In addition, they did not need to be washed, but simply thrown into the fire for a few minutes. Convenient, wouldn't you agree? Asbestos was also actively used in construction and was even wanted to be used in the construction of a telephone. Today it is believed that asbestos can cause cancer and pleurisy.