The 1980s were loud, bold, and often downright bizarre. It was a decade of neon spandex, cigarette smoke in public places, and parenting styles that would make today’s experts cringe. A lot of it felt normal back then—but if you tried it today, you’d probably get side-eyed, fined, or flat-out canceled.
From riding in the back of a pickup truck without a second thought to wearing acid-washed jeans. Here are 20 things we all did in the ’80s that would never fly today.
1. Riding in Cars Without Seat Belts
Back then, seat belts were optional—and often buried under the seat cushions. Kids piled into the back of pickup trucks or station wagons like it was no big deal. Today, that would trigger a CPS call.
2. Smoking Almost Everywhere
People lit up in airplanes, offices, restaurants—and even hospitals. Non-smoking sections were a joke, separated by a single table and a lot of wishful thinking.
3. Leaving Kids Home Alone for Hours
The concept of “latchkey kids” was totally normal in the ’80s. A house key around your neck and a microwave burrito for dinner were just part of growing up.
4. Drinking From The Hose
Filtered water? Bottled water? Never heard of it. You just bent over and drank from the hose like a little backyard warrior.
5. Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Helmets were for professional cyclists or your weird cousin. You wiped out, scraped a knee, and got back on with gravel still stuck to your skin.
6. Playing Outside Until Dark With No Supervision
You left the house after breakfast and didn’t come back until the streetlights came on. No phones. No check-ins. Just a vague idea of where you might be.
7. Using Offensive Language as “Jokes”
Words and slurs that were tossed around casually back then would get you instantly called out today—and rightly so. Comedy was often built on punching down, and no one questioned it.
8. Watching Ultra-Violent Cartoons Meant for Kids
Cartoons like G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and He-Man were full of explosions, sword fights, and laser battles. Parents rarely blinked. Now? They’d read three reviews before letting kids stream anything.
9. Smoking in the Car With the Windows Up
Yes, people really did this—with kids in the car and sometimes even with the A/C on. These days, it’s banned in several states and seen as child endangerment.
10. Using Sun Reflectors and Baby Oil to Tan
Sunscreen was optional. SPF 4 was considered extra cautious. Instead, many were rubbed with baby oil and baked like cookies under the midday sun.
11. Letting Teens Drive Solo Immediately After Getting a License
There was little ceremony—just pass the test and grab the keys. Some even got their license at 15. Driving solo to school the next day? Totally normal.
12. Watching R-Rated Movies as Kids
Movies like “RoboCop”, “Predator”, or “The Terminator” were often seen by 8-year-olds on Saturday afternoons. Parents just figured you’d cover your eyes during the bad parts—or learn something.
13. Playing With Lawn Darts
These sharp-tipped projectiles were marketed as toys. They were banned in 1988 after causing serious injuries—but until then, they were just part of backyard fun.
14. Leaving Dogs in Cars With the Windows Rolled Up
People didn’t know better. Dogs were left alone in hot cars all the time. Today, doing that could land you a hefty fine—or worse.
15. Making Fun of Mental Health Struggles
Depression, anxiety, and therapy were punchlines in sitcoms or ignored entirely. Thankfully, mental health awareness has come a long way since then.
16. Hitchhiking
Need a ride? Just stick out your thumb and hope for the best. Now, everyone knows better—and even rideshare apps come with caution.
17. Listening to Lyrics No One Screened
No parental controls, no warning labels until late in the decade. You might’ve been 9 and singing along to Prince, not realizing what half of it meant.
18. Microwaving Anything in a Plastic Container
Tupperware, margarine tubs, random plastic bowls—it all went in the microwave. There was no talk of BPA or chemical leaching. If it didn’t melt, it was fine.
19. Having Full Access to the Garage Toolshed
Chainsaws. Gasoline. Nails. Machetes. If it was in the garage, it was fair game for building a fort. Parental supervision? Optional at best.
Read More: 15 Easy Meals That Kids Can Make by Themselves
20. Putting Baby Powder on Everything
It was used for rashes, deodorant, freshening shoes—you name it. Now, concerns about talc and health risks have changed the game completely.
The ’80s were a wild time, full of risky trends and questionable choices that somehow felt normal back then. It’s easy to laugh now, but these throwback habits remind us just how far we’ve come—and how different things were.
Read More: 30 Things Only 80s Kids Will Remember
