This site is a collection of sex toy and hardcore magazines information that we have uncovered across the internet and from our own experiences and research, we aim to provide this as a source of sex related issues and information for anyone who needs it. The site has been developed for free but we do welcome advertisers and reciprocal link exchanges so mail us if interested. We do plan to include a review section so again let us know if you have any comments on any sex toys, hardcore magazines, dvd's you have encountered and if your review is good we will publish it for the benfit of others.

Is hardcore legal in the uk?

Hardcore was legalised in the UK effectively in the year 2000 and its now legal to purchase, import and possess adult dvd's and videos so long as it adheres to the BBFC's guidelines.

The following content is not acceptable:
any material which is in breach of the criminal law; material likely to encourage an interest in abuse; sexual activity (eg paedophilia, incest) which may include depictions involving adults role-playing as non-adults; the portrayal of any sexual activity, whether real or simulated, which involves lack of consent; the infliction of pain or physical harm, real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for mild consensual activity; any sexual threats or humiliation which do not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game; the use of any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from withdrawing consent, for example, ball gags; penetration by any object likely to cause actual harm or associated with violence; activity which is degrading or dehumanising (examples include the portrayal of bestiality, necrophilia, defecation, urolagnia)

The following content, subject to the above, may be permitted:aroused genitalia; masturbation; oral-genital contact including kissing, licking and sucking; penetration by finger, penis, tongue, vibrator or dildo; non-harmful fetish material; group sexual activity; ejaculation and semen

There is no distinction made between heterosexual and homosexual activity.

You can now buy hardcore material in the UK from any licensed sex shop, any licensed online sex shop, any non UK based online sex shop, any mail order company offering hardcore products.

Now the funny thing is that whilst it is perfectly legal to buy the products, it is not always legal to sell them but according to the European convention of human rights its not possible to prosecute without proof of what harm it can cause to the individuals.

Hard core magazines enjoy a less restricted avenue of sales and can be legally sold from any high street newsagent, any licensed or unlicensed sex shop in the UK, any UK or non UK based online sex shop, any UK or non UK mail order company.

What are BBFC Certificates?

Issued by the BBFC to indicate that a video/DVD maybe legally sold in a licensed sex shop. All R18 videos classified since August 2000 contain hardcore material.

The majority of R18 videos are the same versions as sold in the US or Europe. The only common prohibition not made clear in the guidelines is that the BBFC do not like 'rough sex'. Spitting, hair pulling and partial asphyxiation are all routinely cut.
18 rated videos may be sold in any shop in the UK and are softcore. There a few exceptions for 'worthy' films and sex education videos where 18 videos may contain some hardcore scenes.
No Certificate There are no legal problems in buying uncertificated videos from abroad or from foreign websites as long as they are with in the BBFC R18 guidelines detailed above. Videos featuring pissing or fisting are considered outside of the BBFC R18 guidelines and are liable to confiscation.

You can also purchase uncertificated videos from UK shops, UK websites or via UK mail order companies. The seller is liable to prosecution but the buyer is not breaking any laws.

What do the symbols mean...

R18 Certificate
Hardcore films approved by the BBFC for sale to adults. Available only through licensed sex shops.

18 Certificate
Softcore or feature films containing adult themes or adult orientated material.

XXX
Hardcore material that has not been approved or classified by the BBFC, or has not yet been submitted. Available from mail order companies in the UK or abroad.

Sometimes a distinction is made between softcore pornography and hardcore pornography. The former generally refers to materials which feature nudity and some sexually suggestive scenes, while hardcore or X-rated pornography contains close-ups of genitalia and sexual activities. Within the industry itself, classification breaks down even further.

The distinctions might be lost on most people, but the precarious legal defintion and differing standards at different outlets (pay cable channels like Cinemax versus the Playboy Channel versus domestic home video versus foreign markets) cause producers to shoot and edit different cuts of films and screen those cuts first for their legal teams.

Primarily the internal rating decision is made by looking at exposure of an erect penis, inclusion and duration of close up shots of genitals and penetration, types of penetration, and presense or lack of an external ejaculation