Things In The 1970s That Are Banned Now

If anyone would recall the 70s, it was a time when kids roamed freely, and did daring things, while parents seemed to have a lot more trust in the universe. It was a wild era, where everything from hitchhiking to trick-or-treating unattended was just a regular Tuesday. Today, these once-ordinary activities are practically outlawed. Let’s take a trip back in time and explore some of the things from the ‘70s that you’d never see flying in today’s world.

Riding in the Back of Cars Without Seatbelts
Remember road trips in the back of a station wagon, sprawled out on a mattress or just chilling on the floor? Parents back then didn’t think twice about letting their kids ride in the “way back” of the family car minus the seatbelts. Joyrides were all about freedom, fun, and well, maybe a little bit of luck. Of course, it’s different nowadays. Parents can’t let their kids ride without a proper car seat or seatbelt or it would cause them a visit from child services.

Running Errands at the Liquor Store
Believe it or not, sending little Susie into the liquor store to pick up a pack of cigarettes and a quart of vodka wasn’t such a big deal back in the day. Yep, parents would give kids cash and send them on their merry way, trusting they’d get the job done. Today? No way. Even thinking about it could land someone in a heap of trouble.

Sniffing Mograph Paper
Kids today will never know the strangely satisfying scent of freshly printed mograph or ditto paper. Teachers used these machines to make copies, and every kid in class knew the joy of a freshly printed worksheet—mostly for the whiff of that unique smell. It’s been replaced by photocopiers and printers, and maybe it’s for the best. But oh, the scent of nostalgia!

Waiting All Week for Saturday Morning Cartoons
Once upon a time, kids had to wait until Saturday mornings to watch their favorite cartoons. No 24/7 Cartoon Network or streaming services! This weekly ritual made those animated adventures all the more special. Now, cartoons are just a click away anytime, which is convenient. But, honestly, it lacks that old-school excitement.

Biking Without Helmets
In the ‘70s, helmets were for “nerds.” Kids rode their bikes everywhere—no helmets, no knee pads, just pure wind-in-your-hair freedom. Today, bike helmets are the law in many places, and for a good reason. But you can bet that kids from back in the day probably have some battle scars to prove how “cool” they were.

Hitchhiking
Need a ride to the arcade but Mom’s at work and Dad’s playing golf? Just stick out your thumb and hitchhike! It was a common practice in the ‘70s, with not much thought given to potential dangers. Today, hitchhiking is almost unheard of—mostly due to safety concerns and, well, common sense.

Trick-or-Treating Alone
Halloween used to mean heading out with friends, unchaperoned, to knock on doors until your bag was full of candy. No cell phones, no parents lurking nearby—just kids and candy. Today, most parents are too worried about strangers or safety risks to let their kids roam freely like that.

Playing with Lawn Darts
Lawn darts, also known as “jarts,” were essentially mini javelins kids hurled at targets on the ground. The potential for injury? Pretty obvious. Jart injuries were so rampant that they’re now banned. Thinking about it, how could anyone think it was a good idea in the first place?

Ironing Hair with a Real Iron
Before hair straighteners became a thing, girls (and lots of daring guys!) would lie down on ironing boards and use a clothes iron to flatten their hair. Talk about living on the edge for a hair fad! Thankfully, modern technology has made hair styling much safer and more effective.

Watching TV Until Sign Off
Imagine staying up late to catch your favorite show, only for the TV station to sign off for the night with a weird test screen. Back in the ‘70s, TV didn’t run 24/7, and kids had to deal with this disappointment often. Today, streaming services make it easy to watch what you want when you want—no sign-offs, just endless binge-watching.

There you have it—some of the most memorable (and now banned) activities from the 1970s. It was a different world back then, and while some things were downright dangerous, others were just good, clean fun that today’s kids will never experience. What a time to be alive!