Laws evolve and change along with the changes in society,
the passage of time, as technologies emerge, and attitudes change. Activities
that were once very ordinary can become illegal or at least tightly regulated.
Looking back at American history, it's surprising how many everyday practices
were once permitted or loosely regulated.
10. Mailing Children Through The Postal Service
That's right! At one time it was legal to send a child through
the mail after the parcel post service was created in 1913. The child needed to
meet the postal rules and regulations (i.e. weight, size). The availability of
this service ended quickly when the postal officials clarified that
people were not mailable packages.
9. Buying Medicines Containing Cocaine
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, some tonics and
over-the-counter medicines contained cocaine and could be purchased without a
prescription. It was used for everything from toothaches to fatigue. The
growing awareness of cocaine's dangers led to tighter regulation and eventual
prohibition for consumer products.
8. Buying Medicines Containing Opium
Opium and morphine were also widely available without a
prescription. They were used in cough syrups, pain relievers, and other
soothing medicines marketed to both adults and children. Current modern drug
laws tightly regulate these substances.
7. Children Working Full-Time In Factories
During the days of the Industrial Revolution, many children
worked long hours in factories, mines, mills, and textile plants. Federal and
state child labor laws expanded during the 20th century,
dramatically limiting the hours children could work and the kinds of work
children are legally allowed to perform today.
6. Selling Miracle Cure Medicines Without Proof
Companies sold patent medicines for decades, claiming to
cure dozens of illnesses. Many of these products contained alcohol, stimulates,
narcotics, and ineffective ingredients. Manufacturers were generally not
required to prove their claims. Consumer protection laws eventually introduced
stricter labeling and safety standards.
5. Smoking Almost Anywhere
It wasn't that long ago that smoking was permitted in
restaurants, airplanes, offices, shopping malls, hospitals, and many other
indoor public places. Today, smoke-free laws have dramatically reduced where
smoking is legally allowed, with specific restrictions varying by county and
community.
4. Driving Without A Seat Belt
During the 1960s, seat belts became standard equipment in
American cars, but wearing them wasn't immediately required. In the 1980s,
states gradually adopted mandatory seat belt laws making something that was
once optional a legal requirement in most of the country.
3. Dumping Industrial Waste Into Rivers
For much of America's history, factories discharged
untreated waste directly into rivers and streams. Modern environmental laws,
including the Clean Water Act, placed significant restrictions on industrial
pollution and generally prohibit unauthorized discharges into waterways.
2. Label All Of The Package Content
There was a time when shoppers had very little, if any,
information about what was inside packaged foods. Modern labeling laws now
require ingredient lists, nutrition information, and allergy disclosures on
most packaged foods, making grocery shopping far more transparent than it once
was.
1. Advertising Cigarettes As Healthy
For much of the 20th century, cigarette advertising
frequently featured doctors, athletes, and health-related claims. As scientific
evidence linking smoking to serious disease became overwhelming, government
imposed strict limits on tobacco advertising and prohibited false or misleading
claims suggesting that cigarettes are safe or healthy.
