There are lots of things that were acceptable back then which you wouldn’t dream of doing today.
In some cases that’s because the law has changed, in others it’s due to shifting attitudes, and often it’s a combination of the two.
Below are just some of the things which were commonplace in the UK during the 70s that might surprise you if you weren’t around then.
Do you remember doing any of these things, or do you recall your parents doing them? And what other things could you get away with in the 70s that you can’t today?
5. Smoking on planes
Flying was a very different experience back in the 70s, as this photo shows, before budget carriers began battling to offer the cheapest fares. But amid all the luxury, you had to put up with the smell of cigarette smoke. It's hard to believe today, but lighting up in the air was still very much allowed during the 1970s and much later. Loganair became the first UK airline to ban smoking, with others following suit. It wasn't until 1997 that the EU banned smoking on all flights in member states. Incredibly, smoking in hospitals was also allowed during the 70s. | Getty Images Photo: Fox Photos
6. Children buying cigarettes and alcohol for their parents
It was illegal to sell cigarettes to under-16s or alcohol to under-18s during the 70s, but that didn't stop many children from buying them for their parents. Many people who grew up back then remember being sent to the nearest corner store, sometimes with a note from their mum or dad, to buy a pack of cigarettes or some beer. It's little wonder then that so many children used to smoke. The minimum age for buying cigarettes has since been lifted, and the crackdown on selling to minors means that few vendors would take the risk these days. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard
7. Not wearing a seatbelt
The modern three-point seatbelt was invented in 1959, but many drivers and passengers continued to ride without them during the 70s. Car manufacturers have had to install seatbelts since 1965 in the UK, but drivers were not required to wear them until 1983 and it was only in 1991 that their use become compulsory for adult passengers in the rear seats. | Getty Images Photo: Michael Putland
8. Caning pupils in school
Pupils at many schools in the UK still feared the cane in the 70s, even though beatings were becoming less common. Corporal punishment at state schools was not outlawed until 1986, and it only became illegal at private schools in 1998. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard