The ugly masks had long been put away and the pointy hats hung up for another year. But that did not stop the consumer authority from ordering the removal from shops of Halloween costumes that could pose a danger to young children... a full two weeks after the festivity.
In an official statement issued on November 14, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority said cords in the neck area of these costumes could lead to strangulation.
Anyone who had bought these costumes, known as Mystic Witch and Horror Life, “should refrain from using them and return them to the retailer”, the authority said.
The authority took its final decision only after the operator declared that he had no records from where he had purchased the dangerous products, the spokesman added.
On November 14, the authority issued its press release announcing its order to remove the costumes from the market.
The authority says inspections on children's costumes are carried out annually, generally during the weeks preceding Carnival and Halloween.
It's unclear how a group that consists “solely of adults” would even still have minors onboard. Al and Chuck Travel offered a response defending Carnival as an ally that did little to address the situation:
Carnival's “no costumes rule” is NOT meant to be an insult to the gay community. As a gay business, we would not have organized this cruise if they were prejudiced against gay people. This rule goes for both GAY and STRAIGHT passengers that travel on all Carnival cruises. It is in response to the post 911 world we live in. It is meant to protect passengers and guests NOT to marginalize a few.
Additionally, we know that transgendered members of our community will be aboard with us during this event. Please do not worry, Carnivals rule is not meant towards you. Your right to live your identity is always supported.
Finally, Drag Stars At Sea is a cruise venue for you to meet the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. Just as you would not go in costume (other than on Halloween) to a club to see them perform, neither should you on the GLORY.
The whole point of such a cruise should be to create an inclusive space for drag culture, as many of those interested enough in a cruise featuring drag stars are likely to participate in drag themselves. Anybody who believes that drag shows never have queens in the audience has possibly never been to a drag show.
It's unclear how exactly the “post 911 world” impacts wearing costumes on a cruise. It also doesn't explain Carnival's Halloween cruises, featuring costume contests. John Aravosis notes that on Carnival's own web page, it encourages guests to wear Halloween costumes, offering that the only limit on what can be included is toy or imitation weapons. Apparently, costumes are not a problem for Halloween, but when it comes to a boat full of drag aficionados, they are suddenly a security concern.
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