People in the ‘70s did things so openly that it’s strange to see how some of those same habits could get you fined or stopped by the police today.
The birthday run
Turning 18 was a different experience back then. Pretty much, it was because you were allowed to buy beer as soon as you turned 18, in practically every state. The voting age dropped in 1971, and some states actually lowered the drinking age.
But the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 changed all that. You have to be at least 21 in every state to purchase alcohol. The idea of high school seniors legally buying beer is completely illegal these days.
The loose back seat
You might be surprised to know how kids traveled in the ‘70s. They rolled around cars like loose groceries. There were no rules about seatbelts, and they could sleep across the back with no restraints at all. Seriously.
You’d get a fine in every state for doing that today. Child restraint laws apply across the nation, and they first started appearing in the late ‘70s. Before that, it was basically a free-for-all for kids in the car.
The ashtray row
Airplanes smelled way more like cigarette smoke back in the ‘70s. That’s because they literally had smoking sections. There were ashtrays built into armrests. Clouds hanging near the ceiling on long flights? Totally normal. A few airlines even gave you matches to light up.
But the federal smoking ban on passenger flights put an end to that, and lighting up on a commercial flight is a guarantee of a penalty. You’ll still see ashtrays in some bathrooms, though. They have to keep them there in case someone ignores the ban.
The termite shortcut
Pouring chlordane around your home was no big deal in the past. It was a great way for dealing with termites. Lots of pest control companies used it back then because it stayed in the soil for ages, and it killed insects really well. Then we learned the truth.
Turns out, chlordane stays in the environment for way too long, and the EPA banned it for home use in 1988. It’s totally illegal to use it for termites. But it was once another routine Saturday project.
The cute little handout
What’s more fun than feeding animals on vacation? You could throw peanuts to squirrels and give bread to the deer in the ‘70s. Feeding bears from your car was allowed, too. But national parks have banned feeding wildlife because we get how dangerous it actually is.
Not only for humans, though. Animals start depending on humans for food, and that’s not great for their population. Federal park regulations mean you can get fined for giving animals food.
The package favor
Mailing cigarettes sounds kind of weird today. But it used to be normal. It was like mailing cookies or magazines. You’d just put a carton in a box, tape it up, and send it off, no big deal. The PACT Act stopped that.
USPS treats cigarettes and smokeless tobacco as prohibited mailing items. Sending cigarettes across the country will get you in serious federal trouble. That is, unless you’re a company and very specific exceptions apply to your case.
The thumb by traffic
The 1970s were when hitchhiking was incredibly normal. College students did it. Travelers did it. People treated it more like an adventure than a sort of transport, and you’d wait by the road with your thumb out until someone stopped. But not anymore.
A lot of states have completely banned soliciting rides from highways or roadways. It’s also prohibited in areas that aren’t for pedestrians. The rule isn’t nationwide, sure, but it’s illegal in several states.
The open-air ride
People knew the risks. But still, motorcycle helmets were optional in the ‘70s, and lots of riders chose to go without one. They wanted the full wind-in-your-face experience. You could see them cruising everywhere with sunglasses, nothing else.
Now, it depends on your state. Seventeen states require helmets for everyone, and others have rules about them strictly for younger riders. The days of riding freely are long gone.
The border stop
Fireworks shopping was pretty exciting for a lot of families. You could drive into another state and stop at one of those giant roadside warehouses. Everyone ended up arguing over Roman candles and firecrackers. They still exist now, although things have changed slightly.
Driving them across borders isn’t so easy. Quite a few states are really strict about owning fireworks, even when you’ve legally bought them somewhere else. A totally harmless trunk full of fireworks? Not anymore.
The backyard barrel
You dealt with your trash in one way and one way only in the ‘70s. It was the burn barrel. You took everything outside, threw it into a metal drum, and lit the whole thing up before dinner. It didn’t matter what you were putting in there. It was all good.
However, a lot of places ban backyard trash burning, or at least they heavily restrict it. It’s partly because of the smoke. It’s partly because it releases some toxic chemicals that we really don’t need.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
