€1.6 Million Drive-In Sex Boxes Introduced To Make Prostitution Safer

We’ve all heard of drive-in movies, but Switzerland has gone one better, as they welcome drive-in sex boxes to the city of Zurich.

The introduction of these sex chalets is part of an initiative to regulate the sex trade that has become a growing problem in recent years.

Nine garage-style wooden structures have been erected (no pun intended) in a bid to make prostitution safer for the workers and clients. 

Men who solicit street workers outside the three new approved areas will face a fine.

The plans for the ‘sex boxes’ were passed in November after being voted for by locals in a referendum.

Customers will have to pass a checkpoint before entering, which opens at 5am every day, and then follow a marked route to 40 prostitutes. Here they shall select a worker, negotiate a fee and after drive into one of the wooden sheds.

Route is clearly marked out for customers.

The sex workers must purchase a ‘work ticket' every night, costing around €4.50, which enables them to participate in the safer sex work scheme.

Michael Herzig, from Zurich's social welfare department explained, "We want to regulate prostitution because until now it was the law of the jungle."

"It was the pimps who decided the prices, for instance. We are trying to reach a situation which is better for the prostitutes themselves, for their health and security and also for people who live in Zurich," he added.