Questions in this quiz: Surprising global laws that could land you in huge trouble — wait, what?! We dis

1. In Singapore, the import and sale of chewing gum has been restricted since 1992. What specific incident is most commonly cited as the trigger for the ban? — Options: Gum stuck on MRT train door sensors causing service disruptions, A child choking on gum at a public school, Gum discarded in the Singapore River during a cleanup campaign, Vandals sticking gum on the Merlion statue
2. Switzerland is known for strict noise ordinances that famously discourage flushing toilets after 10 p.m. in apartment buildings. This rule is generally enforced through which mechanism? — Options: A federal criminal statute carrying fines up to 5,000 CHF, Cantonal police night patrols with decibel meters, Building house rules (Hausordnung) enforced by landlords and neighbours, A national 'quiet hours' law passed in 1971
3. In which country is it illegal to step on, tear, or otherwise deface currency bearing the image of the reigning monarch, on the grounds of lèse-majesté? — Options: Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei
4. Feeding pigeons in public squares was formally banned in 2008 in which European city, following a court case that stripped pigeon-feeders of their traditional right? — Options: Rome, Barcelona, Venice, Vienna
5. In Milan, a 19th-century municipal decree — still technically on the books — obliges citizens to do what at all times in public, on pain of a fine? — Options: Smile, except at funerals or in hospital, Carry a handkerchief, Wear closed-toe footwear, Remove hats when passing a church
6. Germany's Autobahn is famous for unrestricted speed sections, but running out of fuel on it can actually get you fined. Why? — Options: It counts as illegal parking on a controlled-access road, It is classified as an 'avoidable stop' endangering traffic, Empty tanks violate the vehicle roadworthiness code, Drivers must legally carry a reserve canister
7. In Japan, a 2008 law nicknamed the 'Metabo Law' can indirectly penalise citizens through their employers. What does it actually regulate? — Options: Mandatory waistline measurement for adults aged 40–74, A fat tax on high-calorie convenience foods, Compulsory gym membership for civil servants, BMI limits on airline passengers
8. Although generally prohibited in Singapore, one category of gum was made legal to sell under specific conditions from 2004 onward. Which was it? — Options: Sugar-free bubble gum for children under 12, Nicotine and dental gum sold by pharmacists, Herbal gum imported from Malaysia, Gum used in traditional Chinese medicine
9. Which Italian tourist destination in 2019 introduced fines of up to €500 for tourists who sit down on the town's iconic staircases and public monuments to eat? — Options: The Trevi Fountain, Rome, The Spanish Steps, Rome, The Rialto Bridge, Venice, Piazza del Campo, Siena
10. Barcelona city ordinances impose fines of up to €300 for walking on which city streets in only swimwear? — Options: Anywhere more than 100 m from a designated beach access, Only in the Gothic Quarter after 8 p.m., Only when accompanied by a minor, Only in restaurants, not on the street itself
11. Turkmenistan, under President Berdimuhamedov, in 2018 unofficially banned cars of which single characteristic from the capital Ashgabat? — Options: Right-hand drive, Any colour other than white, Diesel engines, Foreign-made
12. In the United Arab Emirates, an internationally reported case in 2010 saw a British couple sentenced to jail time for what act performed in public? — Options: Holding hands on a Dubai beach, Kissing on the mouth in a restaurant, Drinking wine at a hotel bar without a license, Wearing shorts in a shopping mall
13. Denmark's naming law (Navneloven) restricts parents to choosing from an official government list. Roughly how many first names are currently pre-approved? — Options: About 700, About 7,000, About 40,000, About 150,000
14. At major Greek archaeological sites like the Acropolis, a protection rule can result in fines and even brief detention for visitors who do what? — Options: Wear high-heeled shoes on the monuments, Take flash photographs inside temples, Bring bottled water into fenced areas, Wear sunglasses in front of statues