6 Due to rising concerns about various health issues, the Mexican government has passed a law that mandates new warning labels on food products. Any food item with high sugar, fat, or sodium contents must now come with a black hexagon label that warns users of the health risks involved. 

In 2020, the Mexican government passed a law that requires food products to sport an additional set of warning labels. These black octagon labels are to be placed on all food items that are high in fat, sugars, sodium, or calories.

Due to this, many renowned food brands like Campbell’s soup will now have to carry one or more such labels. Additionally, products that contain caffeine and sweeteners must be labeled unsuitable for children. 

These warning labels are meant to combat the rising problem of obesity that affects three out of four Mexicans. Another health concern is diabetes, which was declared an epidemic in 2016 by the Mexican government.

However, this move was publicly criticized by Mexico’s National Agricultural Council which claimed that this law would affect many people’s livelihoods. International organizations like the WTO have also expressed their concerns over such laws being too trade restrictive. (1, 2)

7 In 2007, the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil implemented a “Clean City Law” that bans the display of urban billboards. Under this law, 15,000 billboards were taken down alongside some ostentatious business signs. This move was widely supported by the residents, with some claiming that it felt like a new city altogether. 

In the early 2000s, urban billboards had grown exponentially in Brazil, with Sao Paulo in particular drowning under their flashing signage. Soon, it became evident that the city found it hard to regulate the number of billboards everywhere. But rather than ignoring the “visual pollution,” they chose to ban them all. 

Since 2007, the “Clean City Law” has been widely regarded as a welcome change, with some residents claiming that it now felt like a new city altogether. In just one year, the city removed 15,000 billboards and 300,000 oversized store signs from their premises. 

Currently, more places around the world are following in their footsteps and banning urban billboards. However, many advertisers consider such laws to be unfair and controversial, with some believing that it has the potential to cause great harm to businesses. (1, 2)

8 The “Cinderella Law” was a South Korean law that forbade children under the age of 16 from playing video games after midnight until 6 a.m. This law was enacted to combat the rising video game addiction among Korean youth. In 2021, this law was partially struck down as it was thought to infringe on the rights of young people. 

In 2011, the South Korean government passed a law that made it illegal for children under 16 years of age to play video games from 12 midnight to 6 a.m.

This law, commonly known as the “Cinderella Law” or the “Shutdown Law,” was passed in an attempt to curb the rising gaming addiction among their youth. To circumvent this ruling, many video game providers soon began restricting their games to an adult audience. 

The passing of this legislation was quickly followed by widespread disapproval from various sections of the country. Critics claimed that children should be given more autonomy in making such decisions and challenged this law in the courts.

Finally, in 2021, younger gamers were partially let off the hook on this law. Under the newly modified law, parents have more autonomy to designate the number of hours that their children are allowed to play video games. (1, 2)

9 As per English property law, a homeowner is rightfully entitled to have decent lighting in their residences. Because of this, it is illegal to obstruct the windows of certain old buildings that depend on natural sunlight. Today, these buildings can be seen sporting an “Ancient Lights” board, warning builders not to obstruct their views. 

In England, the “Right to Light” is a stipulation under the Ancient Lights Law, which gives certain property owners the right to receive adequate and unobstructed daylight through their windows.

First ratified in 1663, this law was later defined as the right to have free-flowing air and light in buildings that have been open for twenty or more years. This is mainly meant to help ancient buildings in the country that have historically enjoyed a free passage of light and air through it. 

Under this law, if a property owner believes that their light is being obstructed, they can sue their neighbors for “nuisance.”

To warn potential builders of a property owner’s rights, many buildings began sporting  “Ancient Lights” boards that are still visible today. A few such buildings can still be seen in the English counties of Dorset and Kent and even in London’s Chinatown. (1, 2)

10 Under Finnish law, crimes that are punishable with a fine follow a “day-fine system.” In this system, the fine amount is calculated depending on the daily disposable income of a person. This has led to millionaires paying speeding ticket fines higher than $100,000. 

In 1921, Finland became the first country to implement a day-fine system. Since then, under Finnish law, most fines are calculated according to the income of a person. This system is even governed by a set of guidelines mentioned in the Penal Code of Finland.

Under this law, an offender can be given anywhere between one- to 120-day fines, which is then multiplied by the amount of the fine. Typically, this amount isn’t meant to exceed one-sixtieth of a person’s monthly income. If someone refuses to pay such a fine, they can then be given an imprisonment sentence.

Due to these laws, millionaires in Finland have had to pay speeding fines higher than $100,000, introducing certain fairness to the legal system. At present, most Scandinavian countries follow a similar fining system and have successfully reduced their incarceration rates. (1, 2)