In 1961, tattooing was officially banned in New York City. For the next 36 years, giving someone a tattoo was illegal anywhere in the city. The ban remained in place until 1997. Today, New York is one of the biggest tattoo hubs in the world. That contrast makes the story even more interesting. Why was tattooing banned? The official reason was public health. At the time, city officials were worried about the spread of hepatitis, especially Hepatitis B. Tattooing was seen as a