TABLE TALK #152
It’s a funny thing, law. What’s entirely ordinary in one country can be scandalous in another. From chewing gum in Singapore to naming your baby in Denmark, the rules that govern us often say more about culture, history and habit than morality. Some are sternly enforced, others simply linger - relics of a bygone age, left on the books like forgotten heirlooms.
Today, we’re taking a legal spin around the world, exploring the strange, the sensible, and the surprisingly specific rules that remind us how easy it is to be a lawbreaker - without even realising it.
🍝 MAIN COURSE 🍝
Some laws begin as etiquette with a little too much enthusiasm. Take France, where it’s illegal to kiss on train platforms - a 1910 ruling designed to stop romantic goodbyes from delaying departures. Or Thailand, where leaving the house without underwear is technically against the law (enforcement is, mercifully, rare).
In Singapore, modesty goes one step further: you can be fined for walking naked in your own home if you’re visible from the street. And chewing gum has been banned since 1992, not for reasons of morality but tidiness - too many pavements pockmarked with discarded Wrigley’s.
In some places, civic pride extends to the stomach. In French school canteens, ketchup is rationed to one day a week - and only when served with fries. Vive la sauce control.
Robert Farber — Kiss on the Train
Holden Luntz Gallery
Elsewhere, the rules reflect something deeper - a mix of history, superstition and symbolism. In China, Tibetan monks technically need government permission to reincarnate, a regulation that blends bureaucracy with theology.
Across the Caribbean, wearing camouflage is illegal for civilians, a law meant to prevent confusion with the military (though it has caught out many a tourist in trendy cargo shorts). Meanwhile, in Iran, mullets, ponytails and excessive hair gel are banned as “Western” imports.
Then there’s Denmark, where parents must choose baby names from a government-approved list unless they secure special permission. A reminder that even personal identity can come with paperwork.
Across the Caribbean, wearing camouflage is illegal for civilians, a law meant to prevent confusion with the military (though it has caught out many a tourist in trendy cargo shorts). Meanwhile, in Iran, mullets, ponytails and excessive hair gel are banned as “Western” imports.
Then there’s Denmark, where parents must choose baby names from a government-approved list unless they secure special permission. A reminder that even personal identity can come with paperwork.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Kaisa Kettunen
Kaisa Kettunen
And finally, the laws that make you laugh out loud, or wonder how they ever came to be.
In Australia, you can’t carry watermelons across state lines without inspection (a relic of agricultural quarantine). In Spain, it’s illegal to pee in the sea (apparently the fish don't like it). In Canada, tree climbing is outlawed in the city of Oshawa, and in Arizona, it’s illegal to let your donkey sleep in the bathtub.
Somewhere, once upon a time, there was clearly a very soggy donkey.
Somewhere, once upon a time, there was clearly a very soggy donkey.
🍮 SWEET ENDINGS 🍮
Perhaps that’s what makes these laws so fascinating is that they reveal our quirks, our fears, and our faith in order - even when that order veers toward the absurd. For every outdated rule that’s quietly ignored, there’s another that says something telling about who we are, and what we value.
So next time you absentmindedly cross the street or pack a packet of gum, take a moment to consider: somewhere in the world, that might just make you an outlaw.
🍷 WHAT'S NEW
FROM
WEDNESDAY'S DOMAINE? 🍷
A couple of things to share this week for anyone curious about what goes on behind the scenes.
I recently joined Ruth Fittock on her Tomorrow Brands podcast where we chatted about the ups and downs of building Wednesdays Domaine - from learning to be patient, to the happy accidents (like our summer cuveé) that have ended up shaping our journey.
I also spoke with Daniel Rowntree, founder of High & Dry, for his brilliant newsletter - we chatted about what it really takes to grow something from scratch, and why the road to building a brand is rarely a straight line.
Both are a bit more back-room than usual, but if you like hearing about the journey, wobbles and all, I think you’ll enjoy them.
Until next time,
Luke x
Luke x
