TAMPA (WFLA) – Scotland will be the first nation to make tampons and pads free for anyone in need after parliament unanimously passed the legislation Tuesday.
Under the bill, the government will provide free products, order organizations to do the same, and will be available in school, college, and university bathrooms for free.
The bill’s goal is to eliminate “period poverty”, which is when some people who need period products struggle to afford them. The bill was originally introduced back in April 2019.
According to a survey, about three in 10 women ages 14 to 21 in the U.K. have struggled to afford these products during the pandemic.
The survey also shows one in five women had a difficult time finding them in stores or were unable to leave the house due to the lockdown.
35 states in the U.S. have what is called a “Pink Tax” or “Tampon Tax,” according to an American Medical Women’s Association report. These states tax period products and grooming products marketed toward women because they are considered non-essential items.
