THE WORLD'S WEIRDEST LAWS

Written centuries ago or newly passed, here are 30 regulations in force across the globe that range from mildly amusing to downright bizarre

- Susannah Hickling

Standing Room Only 

It's illegal to spontaneously dance in a bar or restaurant in Sweden. Owners must adhere to a bygone law and get a dance licence. The Swedish parliament announced its intention to repeal it in 2016, yet a restaurant owner in the province of Härjedalen was prosecuted as recently as 2020.

Lights Out

No light must be visible within five kilometres of the king's bedroom in the Palace of Versailles in France. This 18th-century law means the Versailles football club doesn't have floodlights and, as a result, can't host all of its home games including one against Toulouse in January 2022. It had to move the match to its opponent's pitch nearly 700 kilometres away.

Rodent Repellent

Rats aren't allowed to enter the province of Alberta in Canada, not even as pets. They're considered a pest that destroys crops and spreads disease, and a rat-control programme has kept them at bay since the 1950s.

Fishing Rights

All beached whales and sturgeons in the United Kingdom must be offered to the reigning monarch, according to a decree from 1322. Nevertheless, as recently as 2004, the late Queen Elizabeth II waived her right to a 120-kilogram sturgeon caught by fisherman Robert Davies in Wales.

Wedding Wakeup Call

Being unconscious at your own wedding is verboten in Germany. The marriage can be annulled if one of the parties wasn't aware that they were getting hitched.

Weather Warning

In Texas in the United States, you must make an announcement if you want to mess with the climate. Anyone wishing to engage in cloud seeding to generate rain must publish a notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks.