Surprising Things That Were Legal in the 1970s… But Are Now Banned

Added: 2026-05-11

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[00:00:14]The 1970s was a completely different time. We had less rules to follow and that meant life was a bit more risky.

[00:00:21][music] Things that seemed completely normal have over time become outlawed. So, let's take a look back at all the things we did back in the 1970s that are [music] now illegal.

[00:00:38]Back in the day, kids used railroad tracks as an extension of the playground. Walking along the rails, trying to keep their balance, or using the tracks as a shortcut to school was just part of growing up. Some would place pennies on the rails to see them get flattened, while others dared each other to cross a trestle before a train came through. You could always count on waving to the engineers and covering your ears as a train horn blasted.

[00:01:02]Today, that kind of fun is strictly [music] off-limits. Railroad companies cracked down hard on trespassing and for a good reason. But, for those who remember, it was a great adventure that added to your childhood.

[00:01:17]In the 1970s, a health scare over red dye number two led to the Mars company pulling red M&M's from production, despite the fact [music] that M&M's never actually used that dye to begin with. It didn't matter, though. Public concern was high enough that red M&M's disappeared over the decade. Meanwhile, people were still eating plenty of other foods that contained red dye number two, like certain soft drinks [music] and certain cereals, before the FDA officially banned it in 1976.

[00:01:48]By the time red M&M's made a comeback in 1987, the perception of red color in foods had shifted back to being safe, at least we hoped.

[00:01:58]Back in the 1970s, pajamas, furniture, and even baby clothes were loaded with flame retardants to prevent fires. At the time, it seemed like a great idea.

[00:02:08]Who wouldn't want some extra protection?

[00:02:10]But, it turned out that these chemicals were being absorbed into our skin and were linked to serious health risks. It wasn't just clothing, either. Old couches from that era still contain high levels of these now banned chemicals.

[00:02:23]Even though they meant well, the addition of flame retardants proved that sometimes safety measures may deliver an even worse outcome.

[00:02:34]Believe it or not, there was a time when a kid could walk into a store, hand the cashier a note from their parents, and buy a pack of cigarettes, no questions asked. Some kids didn't even need a note. The clerk just knew it was for mom or dad. It wasn't unusual for kids to grab a pack of smokes right alongside a candy bar and a bottle of Coke. [music] Even cigarette vending machines were everywhere, in restaurants, bowling alleys, even gas stations. Today, that sounds completely crazy, but back then, it was just another errand to take care of for mom or dad.

[00:03:06]>> [music] >> If you grew up in the '70s, you probably remember [music] Clackers, the toy that was as fun as it was dangerous. These two acrylic balls on a string would make a loud clack as you swung them together and the goal was to keep them going as fast and as long as possible. The problem was, if you weren't careful, they could smack you in the face or even worse, shatter into sharp pieces.

[00:03:30]Schools eventually banned them, but that didn't stop kids from sneaking them around, because let's face it, once Clackers were forbidden, kids wanted them even more.

[00:03:41]Cyclamates were a popular artificial sweetener found in diet sodas and low-calorie foods, but it took until 1970 for them to be banned. Scientists claimed [music] they could cause cancer, though later studies questioned whether the risk was really as bad as originally thought. Before the ban, sodas like Tab used cyclamates to get that sweet taste.

[00:04:03]But, after they were pulled, companies had to switch to saccharin. Strangely enough, many other countries never banned the substance and still allow them today.

[00:04:15]>> [music] >> In the 1970s, cigarette ads were everywhere, [music] on TV, in magazines, and plastered across billboards. The Marlboro Man, Joe Camel, and catchy slogans like "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" made smoking look like the ultimate [music] cool factor. But, by 1971, the US had banned cigarette ads on TV and radio, forcing tobacco companies to get creative with their marketing. They shifted to print ads, sports sponsorships, and even product placements in movies. Even though these ads are long gone from the airwaves, their influence on generations of smokers is still undeniable.

[00:04:58]Speaking of smoking, if you flew on an airplane during the '70s, you'll remember that a smoke-filled cabin was just part of the experience. The armrest ashtrays were in full use and even though there were designated smoking and non-smoking sections, the smoke didn't exactly stay put. Flight attendants dealt with clouds of smoke and non-smoking passengers just put up with it. The smoking ban on airplanes started small, with it being phased out on domestic flights shorter than 2 hours in 1988, before it was completely prohibited in 2000. Now, lighting up on a plane is unthinkable, but those old no smoking signs are a reminder of how different things used to be.

[00:05:39]Lead-based paint was on just about every surface in the '70s, on walls, toys, and even cribs. It made colors more vibrant and the paint lasted longer and nobody thought twice about small children chewing on those lead-covered toys. When the serious health risks became undeniable, lead paint [music] was finally banned in 1978. But, many homes built before then still contained lead paint. Removing or mitigating it was expensive and to this day, people still have to be cautious when renovating older homes. It's crazy to think that something so common turned out to be such a hazard.

[00:06:18]Lawn darts seemed [music] like good innocent backyard fun until you realized they could cause serious injuries if they hit someone. These heavy metal-tipped darts that were meant to pierce the ground caused several bad accidents, including a few fatalities.

[00:06:34]That's when parents started demanding they be banned. By the mid-1980s, they were pulled from store shelves, although many people held on to their original [music] sets. The modern version of the game is much safer, but let's be honest, the thrill of playing lawn darts was really about dodging death.

[00:06:53]For kids growing up in the '70s, candy cigarettes were the ultimate way to feel grown-up. They came in packs that looked just like real cigarette brands and some even had a powdered sugar coating that let [music] you puff out fake smoke.

[00:07:06]Parents didn't think much of it, even though they were basically encouraging smoking with fun and delicious candy.

[00:07:12]Eventually, concerns over promoting smoking led to bans in many places and the packaging for candy cigarettes had to change drastically. They could no longer mimic real tobacco packs and the [music] word cigarettes was removed altogether.

[00:07:30]Back in the '70s, every gas station pumped leaded gasoline and no one batted an eye. It helped cars run smoother and prevented [music] engine knocking. But, in reality, it was polluting the air and causing serious health issues. Studies linked lead exposure to developmental problems in kids, [music] leading to a slow phase-out that started in the mid-'70s. By the 1990s, leaded gas was mostly gone and today, it's hard to imagine we used to willingly pump a neurotoxin into the air. Just another example of how times have changed.

[00:08:05]Believe it or not, some high schools actually had designated smoking areas for students in the 1970s. It wasn't just the kids, either. Teachers were puffing away in the teachers' lounge and sometimes even in the classroom. It was quite common to see students lining up along a smoking wall and lighting up in between classes. [music] By the late '80s, the smoking areas started disappearing. [music] But, for many years, smoking at school was part of the daily routine. Today, the idea of a high school smoking section seems almost unbelievable.

[00:08:39]The original Easy-Bake Oven was every little girl's dream toy because they could bake real tiny cakes. The only problem, the incandescent bulbs that did the cooking got seriously [music] hot, hot enough to cause burns or even melt the plastic on some models. After a while, safety concerns led to many redesigns and modern versions shifted to a safer heating element. But, for those who remember the original, there was something magical about making your own little cakes under the glow of a 100-W bulb. It might not meet today's safety standards, but it sure made childhood sweeter.

[00:09:17]Did you know that back [music] in 1970, there were no specific laws against identity theft? It wasn't even considered a standalone crime. If someone used your name or social security number to open an account or take out a loan, it might have been [music] seen as fraud, but the legal system had no clear path to prosecute someone for simply pretending to be you.

[00:09:37]It took a few decades and a growing wave of personal data misuse before lawmakers finally caught on and passed targeted laws to crack down [music] on this now common threat.

[00:09:50]In 1970, a woman could be denied a credit card simply because she wasn't married. Banks often required [music] a husband's signature, even if the woman was fully employed and financially responsible. The thinking at the time was that men were the financial heads of the household, and women were too much of a credit risk on their own. It wasn't until 1974, [music] with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, that women gained the legal right to access credit without a husband's approval. [music] Pirate radio was another unique feature of that era. Back then, private [music] citizens could set up small radio transmitters and broadcast without a license, at least for a while. [music] It wasn't until the FCC began cracking down on unlicensed broadcasts that pirate radio became illegal. Before then, people could beam their own music, messages, or opinions across town without any formal approval, and it gave rise to a rebellious underground radio culture that shaped a lot of local communities.

[00:10:56]Job ads in 1970 could openly say "men only" or "women only" without [music] facing any pushback. Newspapers routinely published separate job sections based on gender. Want to be a secretary? Check the help wanted female section. Looking to be a manager? That would be under help wanted male. It was entirely legal and completely normal.

[00:11:17]The Civil Rights Act of 1964 technically outlawed gender discrimination, but it took several more years and new court [music] cases before those classified ads started disappearing.

[00:11:32]Mercurochrome [music] and Merthiolate were household staples for decades.

[00:11:36]These brightly colored [music] antiseptics were found in just about every medicine cabinet and were used on cuts and scrapes. What most people didn't realize [music] at the time was that both products contained mercury, something we now know to be highly toxic. By the 1990s, the FDA declared them unsafe and yanked them from the market, but for generations, kids were painted red and it was a badge of first aid honor.

[00:12:03]When it came to car [music] safety, things were a lot different back in 1970. Babies could legally ride on a parent's lap in the front seat, and in many cases, there wasn't even a seat belt involved. Car seats existed, but they weren't required by law in most states and were often [music] poorly designed. Parents didn't think twice about tossing a baby into the front bench [music] seat for a quick ride to the store. It wasn't until the 1980s that child safety laws and proper restraints became standard.

[00:12:35]Freight trains rolling across the country [music] often had unexpected passengers in the 1970s, hobos. And riding those trains wasn't always illegal. While trespassing [music] laws did exist, enforcement was inconsistent, and it wasn't usually considered a felony. During hard times, especially the Great Depression and its aftermath, [music] many transients took to the rails looking for work or a better life.

[00:12:59]By 1970, the practice had dwindled, but it still occurred, and the law was a lot more forgiving than it is today.

[00:13:09]Believe it or not, NFL players in the 1970s might be spotted smoking cigarettes right on the sidelines during games. Smoking wasn't just common, it was a part of the culture. Team coaches, [music] players, even broadcasters lit up in full view of the cameras, and cigarette ads were still airing during commercial breaks. The shift away from this image took time, but by the 1980s, smoking [music] on the field was banned, and tobacco's grip on sports had begun to fade.

[00:13:41]Selling real human skeletons for classroom use was completely acceptable during this time, too, and many schools and universities purchased them [music] without much oversight. These skeletons were often sourced from overseas, and the trade was loosely regulated at best.

[00:13:57]Eventually, ethical concerns and international laws [music] tightened restrictions, and synthetic skeletons replaced the real thing. But for decades, countless students studied human anatomy using actual bones from unknown people around the world.

[00:14:16]One of the most controversial medical devices of the 1970s was the Dalkon Shield. This was a device marketed to women [music] as a safe, hassle-free form of birth control. Unfortunately, it turned out to be poorly designed and caused serious infections, infertility, and even deaths. Despite warnings, it stayed on the market for years.

[00:14:36]Eventually, lawsuits and public outcry led to its removal [music] in 1974, and it remains a cautionary tale in the history of women's health products.

[00:14:44][music] Tanning products of the era often contained ingredients we now know to be carcinogenic. Back then, the dangers of sun exposure were barely acknowledged, and a deep tan was considered the ultimate sign of health and beauty. So, people slathered on these products without knowing they might be increasing their risk of skin cancer. Over time, regulations [music] tightened, ingredients were banned, and public awareness shifted towards safer skin care.

[00:15:16]And finally, yes, it was completely legal to buy sticks of dynamite at the hardware store [music] in 1970. Farmers used it to remove stumps, contractors blasted rock for construction, and anyone with a legit reason could pick some up with little more than a signature. Regulations [music] were minimal, and safety standards were mostly left up to the user. Eventually, stricter controls were introduced, but for a long time, explosive power was just another item on the shelf next to the hammer and nails.

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