Many individuals would eagerly spend hours kissing their partner, provided they hadn’t just eaten something like sour cream and onion chips. However, attempts to break the record for the world’s longest kiss have been halted by Guinness World Records due to safety concerns.
Previously, the ‘World’s Longest Kiss’ record was available for anyone who could maintain a lip-lock longer than anyone else. In 2013, this title went to Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, a couple from Thailand. They participated in a kissing competition hosted by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Pattaya, Thailand.
According to Guinness World Records, participants were permitted to take bathroom breaks, but they had to remain kissing, under the supervision of a referee.
Not many couples would be willing to face such a challenge, but these competitors were up for it.
The event began on February 12, 2013, with nine couples participating. Among them was a couple in their 70s who withdrew after an hour and 38 minutes because the husband couldn’t stand any longer.
Ekkachai and Laksana persevered, and after 58 hours and 35 minutes, they set the record for the world’s longest kiss. They received a prize of 100,000 Thai Baht ($2,967) and two diamond rings, each valued at 100,000 Baht.
It’s quite an achievement, especially considering the challenge of maintaining a kiss while managing necessities like bathroom breaks. However, after this event, Guinness decided it was too risky to continue such attempts.
Why? As competitors pushed themselves to keep kissing, they faced health risks linked to sleep deprivation, such as psychosis.
In one incident from 1999, record holders Karmit Tzubera and Dror Orpaz almost fainted after a 30-hour and 45-minute kiss, requiring hospitalization for fatigue treatment.
Similarly, in 2004, another participant experienced muscle cramps during the attempt, needing assistance from his partner. After 31 hours and 18 minutes, he required oxygen resuscitation.
For these reasons, Guinness discontinued the record in the interest of participant health. However, if you still want to pursue a kissing-related title, the ‘longest kissing marathon’ record allows for rest breaks.