Explore our verified collection of weird laws from around the world
A widely circulated claim alleges that Argentine law requires employers to provide workers with free dulce de leche or mate during work hours. No such law exists anywhere in Argentina's national labor code.
The claim that photographing someone's house in Western Australia without written owner consent is illegal has no basis in law. No such statute exists at the state or federal level in Australia.
The claim that Liechtenstein specifically bans whistling after 10 PM as a noise disturbance violation is a myth. No such statute or ordinance exists in Liechtenstein's official legal database.
The claim that Czech law specifically bans naming a child after a product brand or trademark is false. Czech naming law restricts names that are offensive, diminutive, gender-inappropriate, or not used as a name anywhere in the world — but contains no specific trademark or brand-name prohibition.
The claim that South Africa has a national law specifically making it illegal to whistle at or catcall women in public, punishable by a fine up to 1,000 Rand, is false. No such statute exists at the national or any known municipal level.
The claim that South Korean law mandates employers provide employees with free ginseng supplements during winter months to boost immunity is false. No such statute exists in South Korean labor or employment law.
The claim that South Korea requires special permits to own a dog with a tail longer than a certain length is completely false. No such law exists in any South Korean statute, regulation, or ordinance.
The claim that Austria (or the Tyrol region) has a law making it illegal to wear lederhosen that fail traditional craftsmanship standards — with fines for 'fake' costume — is false. No such statute exists at the national or provincial level.
A widely circulated claim states that Ethiopia makes it illegal to dispose of chewing gum in public trash cans, with fines up to 500 Ethiopian Birr. Exhaustive research finds no such law exists anywhere in Ethiopian federal or municipal legislation.
Contrary to a widely circulated claim, Taiwan does not have compulsory voting and imposes no fine on citizens who choose not to vote in presidential or legislative elections. Voting in Taiwan is entirely voluntary.
The claim that Uruguay requires all incarcerated prisoners to vote and extends their sentences for non-compliance is entirely false. In reality, most convicted prisoners in Uruguay have their voting rights suspended by the Constitution, and a structural legal barrier prevents even eligible inmates from casting ballots.
The claim that Albania has a national law making it illegal to whistle in public after sunset is false. No such statute exists in Albanian legislation; the confusion likely stems from a genuine Albanian folk superstition that discourages whistling at night.
