Ban

A ban is an authoritative prohibition or restriction on an activity, product, or behavior, imposed by governments, international bodies, corporations, or other organizations. It is intended to restrict or eliminate actions deemed harmful, illegal, or undesirable.

Bans appear in many forms: legal bans enacted through statutes or regulations; executive orders or administrative rules; voluntary or self-imposed bans by institutions; and sanctions or embargoes in international relations. They may target goods (imports/exports), services, behaviors (smoking in public), or content (online platforms restricting access to certain sites or materials).

Enactment: Bans typically require a formal rulemaking process, public notice, or legislative approval, with some exceptions for emergency measures. Enforcement is carried out by police, regulatory agencies, or platform moderators, and violations may result in fines, imprisonment, license suspension, or other penalties. In many jurisdictions, bans must balance public interest with civil liberties, and may be subject to judicial review.

Notable examples include the Prohibition era in the United States (1920–1933) banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages; public health bans on smoking in workplaces or restaurants; digital or platform bans restricting hate speech or illegal content; and economic sanctions or embargoes that prohibit trade with a country. The use of bans can be controversial and lead to debates about effectiveness, enforcement, and unintended consequences.

Etymology: The term "ban" originates in English-derived legal language and is closely related to words meaning proclamation or prohibition. In addition, "Ban" can be a family name or place name in various cultures, though this article focuses on the concept of prohibition.