History is full of strange things. Some of them are truly surprising: throughout history, humanity has banned many things, deemed dangerous or incompatible with social norms. This has led to more radical consequences than restricting access to gambling games, such as the ones offered on websites like Spin City. Did you know, for example, that even coffee was banned for a long time? We’ll share more about these strange moments in history here—let’s get started.

The Strange Times When Coffee Was Banned

You might not be able to start the day without coffee, but you wouldn’t have been able to if you lived in different periods of history. Coffee has been a beverage banned in various places throughout history for various reasons. 

• The first ban occurred in Mecca in 1511. In fact, this was because coffee houses had become gathering points for people, and local leaders believed that this encouraged “radical ideas”. Fortunately, the Sultan of Cairo saw the absurdity of this and quickly lifted the ban.
• Coffee was banned in Italy in the 16th century until Pope Clement VIII tasted it. Because it originated in the Middle East, it was considered the “devil’s drink.” After taking a sip, the Pope decided it wasn’t a drink to be enjoyed only by infidels.
• The Ottoman Sultan Murad IV banned coffee in the 17th century for the same reasons as the rulers of Mecca, and he imposed severe punishments: If you were caught drinking coffee, you could lose your head.

Even in the 19th century, there were countries where coffee was banned. Thankfully, that’s no longer a problem, and as you head to Starbucks, you can be happy you’re living in the right era of history.

There Was a Time When Chocolate Was Banned, Too

Chocolate entered Europe from South America in the 17th century, and there was a long-standing debate about whether it was solid or liquid, as it could be consumed either way. This had more serious consequences than one might expect, as it was difficult to determine whether it met the rules of fasting. Although there was no ban from the Vatican, many monasteries banned chocolate for a long time for this reason, and devout common folk also avoided it for the same reason. This practice continued until the Vatican declared in 1662 that chocolate did not violate the rules of fasting.

Ban on Playing Cards

Playing cards were widespread throughout Europe in the 14th century, and they weren’t always used for gambling, but the Church was particularly concerned about this. According to the Church, these cards encouraged gambling and, therefore, sin. Initially, games played with them were banned, but people invented new games to circumvent this ban. They then tried to ban the cards themselves: in Paris, playing with them on weekdays was prohibited in 1377. England took a different approach, raising the tax on them to what would have been considered a fortune at the time. Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, playing cards were considered “instruments of sin” in most European countries.

The Theatre Ban That Lasted for 18 Years 

In 1642, all theatres in England, the birthplace of Shakespeare, were banned by the Long Parliament. This was due to pressure from the Puritans: they viewed theatres as sinful distractions and believed they encouraged immoral habits. This ban remained in effect until King Charles II ascended to the throne in 1660. For almost 18 years, theatres in England remained closed, and actors were forced to emigrate to other countries.

Tomatoes Were Believed Poisonous

Throughout the 18th century, tomatoes were a “feared food” in Europe and America. Because they technically belonged to the “nightshade” family, people believed they were poisonous. More people than you might imagine believed they would die or become ill after eating tomatoes—a reason why, even today, tomatoes are not used as an ingredient in most European cuisines. This strange belief persisted until the Italians created pizzas, pastas, and delicious sauces with tomatoes.

Why Try to Ban Bicycles?

Bicycles appeared in the late 1800s and quickly spread as a new mode of transportation. However, there were also those who were disturbed by this. In many European cities, local officials banned them because they believed they posed a danger to horse-drawn carriages. But the real reason was that women also rode bicycles: this was unacceptable according to social norms at the time. It was believed that bicycles gave women too much freedom and “aroused men”. It didn’t take long for this nonsense to die out, but throughout the 19th century, there were cities where you couldn’t ride a bike, or if you did, you would face social isolation if you were a woman.

Modern and Strange Bans & Restrictions

We can also give examples from modern times: strange moments in history don’t just date back to the 19th century and earlier. For example:

• Since 1992, chewing gum hasn’t been sold in Singapore—markets and other merchants are prohibited from selling it. This is because the cost of cleaning up the gum people chew and throw on the ground is very high. If you’re a tourist, you can bring a small amount with you, but trying to sell it could result in a hefty fine.
• Until the late 1960s, margarine was banned in Wisconsin. This was done to protect the local dairy industry: stores were only allowed to sell butter. However, when both locals and the rest of the US began to mock it, they were forced to lift the ban.
• In 2002, Greece passed a law banning all internet games in public places. The goal was to prevent illegal gambling, but the law was so poorly drafted that it affected PC and console games. Despite the backlash, the law remained in effect until 2011.

The reason strange moments in history have occurred more frequently in the past is due to the lack of access to information. With greater access to information, strange prohibitions or practices are less common. Future generations will look back on these moments with a smile and—hopefully—refrain from such actions.