These Irish habits that locals take for granted could land you in serious trouble in some countries.
Every country has its own cultural rules and laws, meaning that what looks perfectly normal in one country is unlawful in another.
In Ireland, some daily habits seem entirely harmless, but other countries could fine or jail you for them. Here are ten completely normal things in Ireland that are illegal elsewhere.
10. Letting kids wander the local pub – underage pub entry is heavily restricted abroad
Allowing kids in Irish pubs is culturally normal and legally permissible provided adults accompany them.
A local Irish pub is not just a place for nightlife and entertainment but a community living room.
It is the place where families gather for traditional music, Sunday roasts, and sometimes funeral wakes.
You will most likely spot toddlers playing in beer gardens and teenagers chatting with their parents somewhere inside the pub.
Most jurisdictions, such as the United States and Australia, strictly prohibit minors from entering bars or pubs. You can be expelled and venue owners fined for violating strict international licensing laws.
9. Learning to drive in your parents’ car – private learner practice is banned abroad
Almost every Irish driver will admit that they learnt how to drive in their parents’ car.
It is not illegal for Irish teenagers to practise driving on busy local streets as long as a fully licensed driver accompanies them and they have insurance.
Most learners say that the high cost of driving lessons and the long driving test waiting times led them to use family cars.
However, some countries such as the Netherlands and Germany do not allow learners to practise driving in a private vehicle.
Authorities can arrest you and impound your vehicle. In these countries, driving lessons must be delivered strictly within certified driving schools using specialised cars equipped with dual-control pedals.
8. Giving a friendly driver the double-hazard flash – using emergency lights is a traffic violation elsewhere
While hazard lights are strictly reserved for serious road emergencies such as stationary car breakdowns, Irish drivers sometimes use them casually.
If you are driving on a narrow Irish rural road and another motorist lets you pass, it’s natural to show your appreciation.
Most drivers will naturally wave their hand during the day, but a hand signal may not work at night. A quick double flash of the hazard lights is usually the most convenient way for a driver to say thank you.
If you try this in New Zealand or some US states, law enforcement officers are likely to pull you over for a traffic offence. They consider double-hazard flashing a dangerous distraction to other road users.
7. Making a midday crisp sandwich – junk food is banned in some international schools
A crisp sandwich made with sliced buttered bread is one of the weird Irish foods everyone needs to try. You won’t miss it in many primary school lunchboxes, office lunches, and late-night snacks across the country.
However, in countries such as Mexico and France, packing potato crisps or highly processed snacks into a child’s lunchbox is illegal.
Doing so violates strict public health laws and can result in confiscation and a warning from the relevant authorities.
French schools have entirely banned junk food within school premises. The government provides strict, approved nutritional guidelines to help combat childhood obesity.
6. Letting your dog roam the front garden untethered – strict international leash laws prohibit free-roaming pets
It is not unusual to see a family dog roaming on the front lawn without a leash in a rural Irish village or suburban estate.
Dog owners often allow their pets to roam freely because they trust them to know their limits and not cross the physical boundary.
While this is normal in Ireland, it is illegal in some countries and can attract heavy fines. If you leave your dog untethered in Germany or Singapore, you will quickly realise that these nations take their leash laws very seriously.
The casual freedom that Irish dogs enjoy is a public endangerment in most countries.
5. Foraging for wild mushrooms in local woods – picking wild fungi faces strict environmental protection laws
Irish people often forage for wild mushrooms in local forests for personal use. It is a common traditional outdoor activity that allows locals to connect with their natural landscape.
While foraging for personal consumption is legal in public state forests, you must still ensure you aren’t trespassing on strictly private property.
In some countries such as Germany or the US, you could face hefty legal fines. These nations have strict environmental laws that prohibit uncontrolled foraging in designated forests and nature reserves.
4. Swearing as a form of endearment – casual profanity can cause public arrests in stricter nations
In Ireland, you can easily get away with calling someone a “shitehawk” or a “mad bastard.” These are common phrases Irish people use to express affection, intimacy, and trust rather than anger.
Swearing is a sign of familiarity that rarely offends anyone in everyday social conversations. Other countries consider this an insult, aggressive behaviour, or a sign of disrespect.
Some places like Dubai and Singapore have strict laws on profanity and public decency. What seems like harmless banter in Dublin is a serious criminal offence that could land you in a lot of trouble.
3. Kissing casual acquaintances on the cheek – an unsolicited touch can violate strict indecency laws
Greeting your friends with a quick kiss on the cheek is quite normal in Ireland. It is a warm way of saying hello without formal handshakes or intimate hugs.
While a firm handshake is the standard for first-time introductions, a “social peck” is also common.
In contrast, kissing someone on the cheek in some countries, such as the UAE, Qatar, and Japan, is inappropriate or disrespectful in public.
Some nations treat unsolicited physical touch between unmarried men and women as a form of harassment and public indecency. What might look like a harmless greeting can quickly land you in trouble.
2. Buying generic over-the-counter painkillers – everyday pharmacy items are controlled substances abroad
Purchasing over-the-counter painkillers containing low doses of codeine is quite normal in Ireland.
The country has less stringent regulations on the sale of mild analgesics in local chemists or supermarkets.
While pharmacies monitor these sales to prevent misuse, you can easily get these items without a prescription.
In some places such as Japan or the UAE, entering customs with a standard box of codeine-based painkillers is a drug smuggling crime.
These countries have strict laws regarding anti-stimulant and stimulant production. You will need some form of documentation to import certain types of medication.
1. Reusing plastic supermarket bags – carrying plastic bags is outlawed in progressive eco-states
If you visit most Irish households, you will most likely find a massive bag stuffed with other old plastic bags somewhere in the kitchen.
Locals see nothing wrong in grabbing a handful of older plastic bags when heading to the shop or supermarket.
It is a normal, cost-saving habit ever since the Irish government introduced the national plastic bag levy in 2002. In countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Bangladesh, carrying single-use plastic bags is illegal.
Kenya has some of the most stringent environmental laws prohibiting the use of plastic bags. Visitors entering the country can face severe fines for carrying banned plastic bags.
