A sex shop is a shop that sells products such as sex toys, pornography, erotic lingerie, erotic books, and safer sex products such as condoms and dental dams. The terms "Adult Video Store" and "Adult Book Store" are commonly used to refer to sex shops that sell or rent pornographic videos, books, and magazines.
In most jurisdictions, sex shops are regulated by law, with access not permitted to minors, in most countries/states, the age depending on local law. In case of doubt, on entering a sex shop, one may have to present a valid ID. Some states/countries don't tolerate sex shops at all, e.g. many Islamic states .
In some jurisdictions that permit it, they may also show pornographic movies in private booths, or have private striptease or peep shows.
Near borders of countries with different laws regarding sex shops, shops on the more liberal side tend to be popular with customers from the other side.
The world's first sex shop was started in Flensburg, Germany in 1962 by Beate Uhse.
See also
